A RAUCOUS crowd got involved at every opportunity during the opening night of the Norbury Theatre’s panto ‘Cinderella’.
This superb stage show was such a success, thanks to teamwork in abundance.
It began as all fantastic pantos should with a colourfully costumed chorus blasting out a catchy pop classic – tonight’s offering being ELO’s foot-tapper Mr Blue Sky.
Their performances continued to a high standard throughout the evening and the backing dancers in the troupe also complemented the lead’s solos when needed.
Kate Goode was suitably regal and sensitive in equal measure as the Fairy Godmother, playing the pivotal role in the show.
Christopher Newbould and Jo Lush were great together as hapless Baron and Baroness Hardup. Her well-executed evilness extracted a bevvy of boos all evening and he was equally as good, playing the over the top and under the thumb role with beautiful eccentricity.
Likewise, Emma Waters and Amanda Blockley as Dandini and Prince Charming were so in tune with each other, they could have finished each other’s sentences as they excelled in their roles.
Daniel Chorley as Major Domo and Ryan Simcock as the Footman were solid as the Prince and Dandini’s supporting characters.
The ugly squabbling sisters ‘Bombay’ and ‘Sapphire’ were ably played by Paul Steele and Tom Collen. As well as the barbed put-downs to each other and Cinders, the pair also rose to the challenge of their musical numbers, most notably ‘sisters’.
Sophie Mason perfectly portrayed Cinderella’s kind character, gaining plenty of empathy from the crowd.
Popular Norbury Players’ mainstay Jimmy Hill returned as Buttons and was taken to the audience’s hearts who all deep down wanted him to walk down the aisle with Cinders but – familiar with the plot – knew it could not happen. As well as his corny one-liners and well-sung solos, he was also the reason the crowd was so raucous, whipping them up into a feelgood frenzy.
The musical highlight of the evening was Blockley and Mason’s rendition of ‘Love Is All Around’ – their pitch-perfect harmonies sent shivers down the spine.
Broker men ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ – aka Kate Powell and Stacy Harrison – were absolutely hilarious. When it came to comedy creation, whether it was slapstick, classic chemistry and one-liner timing and interacting with other characters (notably the ugly sisters), you felt there was nothing they could not do. They were involved in the funniest scene in the show when they went to collect Baron Hardup’s debt where there were so many laugh out loud moments starting outside ‘Hardup Hall’ and continuing inside.
Directors John Birchley and Anne Lane should be so proud of their cast and crew for the opening night and, with the talent on show, you can tell the rest of the run will be equally successful.
It was great to be sitting in a full house of all ages enjoying some traditional seasonal fun together – in fact, the heckle of the evening came from a member of the scout group who, when the sisters declared the ‘most beautiful women in the town were there’, he shouted: ‘Where? I can’t see them!’
That, coupled with the boy behind me, pointing out and questioning why the men were playing ladies (and vice versa), along with other questions shows why panto is the perfect introduction to the theatre for children (in my opinion the earlier the better).
However old you are, if you want to see this show (which I would strongly recommend), I’d get in quick as tickets are leaving the box office as quickly as Cinders fled from the ball when the clock struck midnight.
The rest of the performances take place over the next three weeks at 7.30pm on January 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.
There are also additional 2.30pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays (January 14, 15, 21, 22 and 28).
Some days are already sold out and some shows have less than ten tickets remaining.
Click here for times, tickets and more information.
