Cinderella

Reporter: Colin Meredith
Date online: 11/06/2008

The first night audience were full of anticipation for the opening of Cinderella at St Gabriel's Castleton, and they were not disappointed.

This was director Billy Sheerin's 26th panto at St Gabriel's and he has not lost any of his touch. He has assembled a very strong cast who grabbed the audience's attention from the opening number.

The show had three different groups of chorus who were all excellent in their respective singing and dancing routines.

Siobhan McHale as the Prince and Jackie Barlow as Dandini worked together well and were suitably cast in the parts, Siobhan delivering her many songs with confidence. Complimenting them as Dandini's future bride was Jenny Ward as Sally.

Simon Thompson as Buttons showed great maturity in handling an audience and had the kids on his side from the start. He has natural timing and had the audience eating out of his hand.

Martin Tierney had a lot to do as Baron Hardup and was very strong as a main link between many of the scenes and was able to keep the pace going.

The Ugly sisters were Mike Newton as Bella and Tim Richardson as Donna and they literally bounced off each other well. As a loveable double act the audience were booing them one minute and laughing at their routines the next.

Rachel Wilkins was a thoughtful Cinderella who got the sympathy of the audience throughout.

I have to mention one of the clearest performances of the evening came from Bernie Burke, you could hear every word and she reminded me of the Fairy Godmother in the Walt Disney Version.

At the ball Debbie West was very strong as the Nagging Queen ably partnered by her henpecked husband Ryan Bromfield.

We were treated to Cinderella's arrival at the ball when the coach was brought through the audience by the delightful children who were the horses and footmen. Instead of the traditional ghost gag the kids were screaming the place down when they were treated to its behind you, with the headless woodcutter in the woods.

The brokers men Clive Crossley and Peter Wood were sadly not on enough as they proved to be a very funny double act.

The script had all the traditional panto elements containing some good one liners and local references which the first night audience loved. There were plenty of well known numbers to keep the audience rocking in the aisles.

This panto was another great St Gabriel's team effort and the musicians and back stage staff contributed to a slick show which the audience loved from start to finish. The stage was bursting at the seams for the finale as they all sang Reach for the Stars, which was appropriate as the show was full of them.

St Gabriel's Castleton