Cinderella (Doncaster)

Cinderella, the first pantomime in Cast, Doncaster’s splendid new theatre, is traditional (even down to the rhyming couplets that surface every time the Fairy Godmother appears), lavishly designed and costumed, and – most important – a palpable hit with the children in the audience.

However, though the traditional elements are all in place, some are rather tame. The choreography gives the troupe of eight dancers little to do and the slosh scene is notable more for the two-saxophone-and-ukulele version of Yackety Sax than any vigorous wielding of the brush.

Joel Horwood and Morgan Lloyd Malcolm‘s script for the Lyric, Hammersmith, is on strictly traditional lines, the only important change being the non-appearance of Baron Hardup, Cinderella having lost both parents in this version. Fine Time Fontayne’s relocation of the script to South Yorkshire gives us some comic names (Prince Brodsworth of Charming Hall, for instance), but doesn’t stray far into regional fun. The most pleasing innovation of Kully Thiarai‘s production is the use of actor/musicians which compensates for backing tracks replacing a live band.

Elizabeth Marsh is outstanding as the Baroness Fiendella, aka the Wicked Stepmother. Her elongated vowels and basilisk stare radiate menace and she is a strong candidate for “the scariest person in South Yorkshire” while always knowing just how far over the top is funny. Kate Robson-Stuart achieves a notable double as Mother Cusworth, the Fairy Godmother, and Dandini, a jolly sidekick to Victoria Hamnett‘s sporty Prince.

Brett Lee Roberts is a hard-working Buttons, his energy and amiability engaging the young audience from the start, low on pathos, high on cheerful interaction with the kids. Russell Richardson and Tony Bell belong very much to the grotesque school of Ugly Sisters: perhaps the only lapse in Ali Allen’s admirable designs comes in their original first act costumes, and wearing her later monster creations seems to raise their game. As Cinderella Sara Sadeghi gives a nice straightforward performance, refreshingly free from “look at me” affectation.

Apart from Buttons’ charmingly silly sing-along number most of the songs are pretty much contemporary and not especially tuneful, but Matthew Bugg impresses as the on-stage musician, switching instruments without letting his smile slip, and also as the musical director co-ordinating the contributions of the cast on saxophones, clarinet, guitar and violin.

Cinderella continues at Cast, Doncaster until 31 December.