Cinderella DeMontfort Hall

Review by Paul Towers, 17/12/22

Cinderella by Will Brenton (adapted by Eric Potts)

Directed by Janice Dunn

Produced by Imagine Theatre

At DeMontfort Hall til Sunday 2nd January 2023

“a most traditional of pantomimes”

Once again Leicester is blessed with a superlative Imagine Theatre pantomime. This year it is Cinderella, the story of a put upon daughter of an evil stepmother and her ugly (inside) step daughters. Dreaming of breaking free after her father dies, Cinderella is presented with a way out. Love and marriage to a handsome prince. Maybe they could even flee to California and a Netflix deal! (sorry, I made that last bit up!)

So the scene is set for this most traditional of pantomimes.

A talented cast led by dance duo AJ & Curtis Pritchard of Strictly and Love Island respectively and, replacing injured Leicester stalwart Martin Ballard is Richard J Fletcher as Dame Penny Pockets. Returning for his second panto in Leicester is the appropriately named New Zealand comic Jared Christmas as Buttons. The title role of Cinderella is Evie Pickerill, a  CBBC favourite who has a most enchanting voice. On which subject it has to be noted that Curtis Pritchard has a great singing voice. Who knew?

The Pritchard boys have great fun with some fine slapstick moments while Richard J Fletchers’ dame copes wonderfully with both the silly songs and the audience interaction.

As the villainous stepmother Baroness Verruca Wibble, Jacob Kholi whips up a storm of boos whenever he/she makes an entrance. While the ugly sisters, Claudia & Tess Wibble (I wonder where the inspiration for those names came from?) Sophie Camble and Millie Robins, shriek like Essex harridans as they try and impress Prince Charming.

Appearing from the wings just as things threaten to get out of hand Madison Swan’s Fairy Godmother wields her magic wand to make everything right. Her greatest feat is, at the end of the first half, creating a beautiful stagecoach and white horse that flies off to the castle with Cinderella realising her dream. Cinderella’s dress transformation from drudge to princess got gasps from the young audience around me.

An ensemble of talented young actors are supplemented with the traditional coterie of local dancers. Tonight it was the Buttons Team who injected some youthful energy into proceedings.

This family friendly production is littered with awful puns, lots of cheese jokes, local references and a few gags for the grown ups. A perfect festive treat for everyone.

Cinderella is at DeMontfort Hall until Sunday 2^nd January 2023 with a specially relaxed performance on Wednesday 28^th December at 1pm and a BSL performance at the 5pm performance on the same date

 

www.demontforthall.co.uk/event/cinderella/

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk

 

Sleeping Beauty 2022

Review by Paul Towers, 25/11/2022

Sleeping beauty by Morgan Brind

Directed and designed by Morgan Brind

Produced by Little Wolf Entertainment and Loughborough Town Hall

At Loughborough Town Hall til Monday 2^nd January 2023

“a traditional pantomime with lots of added glitz”

If you want a traditional pantomime with lots of added glitz then Loughborough Town Hall’s 2022 offering of Sleeping Beauty from Little Wolf Entertainment is perfect for you.

Whilst the basic story is as old as time the modern references make it fresh and current. This doesn’t detract from the traditions that seasoned panto goers will relish. It is all there on stage; the handsome prince, the beautiful princess, the dozy jester, the outrageous dame and a villain to give Maleficent a run for her money. The story is simple a desperate king and queen make an enemy of the King’s sister, Carabosse, when they fail to invite her to their longed for daughter’s christening. Good Fairy Lights is only able to mitigate the curse to that of a 100 year sleep. The Prince vows to find the sleeping princess and awaken her with a kiss and everyone lives happily ever after.

Victoria Lucie as Princess Rose is a lot more feisty than Sleeping Beauty of old, a welcome sign of the times. Jake Reynolds as Prince Vince is the typically wet, nice but dim love interest. Oliver Stanley as the King booms his way around the castle trying desperately to protect his daughter while the comedy duo of Nurse Nancy Nightly (Sean McKenzie) and Mervin The Magician/Jester (Harry Polden) provide much of the laughter and litter the evening with a few jokes for the grown ups but mainly plenty of groan-worthy puns for the kids.

Marisa Harris as Carabosse has great fun chewing up the scenery and getting booed at every turn.

The main cast are boosted by several teams of young local dancers who take it in turns over the run.

The staging, designed by the author, is extravagant with glitter and gold everywhere. As a nod to old school pantos there is an imaginative black light sequence where Prince Vince fights his way through the forest to the sleeping princess.

The costumes, designed by Sara Rose, are a triumph of glamour, while Nurse Nancy Nightly has dozens of costume changes, each outfit more outrageous than the last. As it should be.

This is a great panto for introducing children to theatre. There is a sing-a-long, audience participation  and lots of laughs. There is even a huge dragon!

Sleeping Beauty runs at Loughborough Town Hall until Monday 2^nd January 2023

 

www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk