CINDERELLA
Arc
Theatre at the Broadway, Barking
07.12.2012
We're
all
living
in
Hardup
Hall
these
days;
arts
venues
know
this
better
than
most.
And
to
be
honest,
Cinderella
at
the
Broadway
has
shoestring
written
all
over
it.
That
said,
it's
a
brave,
and
mostly
enjoyable,
attempt
to
keep
the
panto
flag
flying
in
this
multi-purpose
community
venue.
Director
Carole
Pluckrose,
making
her
first
panto,
seeks
to
create
an
original
piece
of
musical
theatre,
"woven
through
with
all
the
recognisable
delights
of
panto".
Indeed
the
music,
in
the
experienced
hands
of
Barking
veteran
Phil
Gostelow,
is
an
undoubted
strength
of
the
production
– a
succession
of
singable,
melodic
numbers
embracing
a
variety
of
genres:
chirpy
Tommy
Steelery
for
our
pearly
Buttons
in
A
Little
Bit
Of
Mischief,
Lionel
Bart
lite
for
If
I
Was
A
Lady,
Lloyd
Webber
for
the
dry-ice
love
duet
and
a
cheeky
nod
to
David
Rose
and
his
Stripper
for
the
Clenchbutt
sisters
and
their
raunchy
fashion
parade.
More
disappointing
is
the
staging
– I
like
the
idea
of
the
revolving
mini
trucks,
but
the
execution
is
frankly
amateurish,
and
the
black
tab
curtain
does
nothing
to
enhance
the
mood.
Some
good
costumes
– Rubella's
lady-in-red
dress,
the
headgear
for
Nefaria
and
Lascivia.
But
not
everyone
can
run
to
a
change
for
the
wedding,
though
I
liked
the
two-sided
suit
for
Dean
Kilford,
who
plays
twin
brothers
Buttons
and
Dandini.
The
seven
principals
work
hard;
because
of
its
musical
comedy
ambitions,
Clifford
Oliver's
script
gives
them
several
contrasting
styles
to
cope
with.
Dandini
and
his
Prince
have
a
retro
feel
to
them,
with
nicely
judged
dialogue,
and
the
best
[or
worst]
line
in
the
show
from
Dandini
as
he
advises
his
master
how
best
to
meet
the
girl
of
his
dreams:
"You
could
try
holding
one
of
your
balls,
sir
…"
Sharif
Afifi
is
a
charmingly
clueless
Prince,
with
a
pleasant
light
singing
voice;
Kilford
is
excellent
as
his
batman,
with
his
stash
of
spare
moustaches;
his
alter
ego
Buttons
enjoys
most
of
the
interaction
with
the
noisy
audience.
An
original
take
on
the
local
council's
Fairy
Godmother
by
Sally
Fisher,
nicely
down-to-earth
and
just
a
tad
incompetent.
Barbara
Jaeson
makes
a
cold,
steely
stepmother;
her
Act
One
costume
continuing
the
period
theme.
Andy
Gillies,
a
punkish
big-boned
bruiser
of
an
Ugly
Sister
rather
overshadows
her
rival,
Ian
Crowe;
both
performances
are
suitably
bold
and
brash.
And
a
brilliant
début
for
young
Amy
Green,
in
her
first
professional
role,
as
Cinderella.
The
pros
are
ably
supported
by
an
eight-strong
juvenile
chorus.
They
certainly
prove
their
worth,
shifting
the
scenery,
singing
and
dancing,
even
delivering
some
dialogue.
All
very
polished,
especially
perhaps
Sam
Willmore
[the
night
I
saw
the
show]
as
a
knowing,
confident
Spud.
Some
good
effects
ingeniously
done
– the
wobbly
flashback,
the
transformation,
with
Cinders'
dress
changed
in
a
shower
of
gold.
But,
for
a
panto,
and
probably
for
a
musical,
there
was
too
much
dialogue,
and
the
kids
might
sympathise
with
Lascivia
as
she
shouts
"Don't
start
singing
again!"
And
as
for
sniffing
the
slipper
…
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