"Cinderella" A pantomime by Warren McWilliams

by Burton Joyce Players at Burton Joyce Village Hall.

You can almost certainly guarantee that, with local pantomimes, something will go just a little awry, and it did with this pantomime but that is what makes pantomimes even more fun. I'll tell you more about that later!

Everyone knows the story of "Cinderella" so i don't need to go through the plot line as that part of it is kept faithful to the 400-year-old story. As usual though there are lines that have been added to bring the story up to date, and there are loads of jokes that I hadn't heard before, as well as some that I had.

Also keeping to tradition is the big opening number and the big closing number, and by the end of the panto, and the big number "You Can't Stop the Beat", the audience had really been warmed up and were clapping, and singing along like good 'uns.

Buttons was played by Ben Bradley, and finally I get to see Ben in full flow, so to speak. On and off stage he is extremely amiable, and this role is perfect for Ben, getting the kids, and the mums and dads shouting "Hiya Buttons" on his entrances, and getting the "aahhs" suitably ramped up when requested at the "sad" moments.

Cinderella was played by Sophie Dobb, and how we all cheered when we saw that marvellous silvery ball gown magicked up, with just a little bit of video magic at the end of Act One. The audience also loved it when the shoe was placed on her foot and we knew that the Prince had found his Princess.

Avril McCormick (Baroness Hardup) and Trevor Wright (Baron Hardup) were great fun as the mis-matched Father and Stepmother.

Another coupling I loved were that of the Ugly Sisters Claudia, played by Patrick McDonough, and Tess played by Bertie Black. Well matched and the kids loved them, especially in their "Single Ladies" dance.

Lisa Ostrowsky-weston, who played the Queen of Bucotonia, and David Matthews, the King of Bulcotonia were another well matched pair, and especially with the King's speech impediment!

The Herald, or is that Harold?, was played by Greg Nicholas, and I don't know why but every time he came on stage I was reminded of Gyles Brandreth, he had that air about him and that cheeky twinkle in his eye. Greg's projection, by the way was the best in the show.

Pantos are full of excellent pairings, when got right, and the bailiffs, or is that bay leafs? were played brilliantly by Alistair Dobb (Grabbit) and Kathy Matthews (Scarper), a real comic couple who delivered almost as many cheesy jokes as Buttons did, but they were all really Caerphilly placed throughout the show. This couple also had the job of getting the kids up to dance to "Big Fish, Little Fish, Cardboard Box" with just a slight mix up of words from Kathy, which was spotted by many of the adults and raised a great roar of laughter. That, and Alistair forgetting a cue and lines was also an addition to the comedy. Both got through admirably though and received a massive round of applause at the closing bows.

The Fairy Godmother was played by Tracey Evans in true style, creating some lovely theatre magic with a little help from the digital age of today.

Jennifer Reckless played our hero, The Prince, with multitudes of slapped thigh and charm. The Prince's right hand man, Dandini was played by Steve Armstrong, who had to keep reminding us of who he was as he never seemed to get a mention in the panto proceedings. I made sure that I gave him a mention because it was thoroughly deserved, and some nice comic touches as well. Jennifer also choreographed the whole show.

Last, but not least, Stephanie Pindor played Madame Darcy, the ballet teacher who had to put up with the Ugly Sisters attempts at ballet, creating more comedy moments.

Toads of laughs in this show and loads of "fart" jokes which kept the kids happy.

The chorus, backing the main performers were Stephanie Pindor, Hannah Smith, Isla Hilton, Molly Fitches, Lucy Wells and Lily Musson, who I musson forget to mention (sorry).

Directed by Deborah Craddock and Produced by Kathy Matthews. Between them they put together a pacy and fun show which was enjoyed by children and adults alike. And at just under two hours long, with interval, they crammed a lot in, never seeming rushed, but timed just right for the attention span of some of the younger audience members.

Lighting was by Simon Johnston and Sound by David Price and Dom Mills. There were a few times that the finger must have slipped off the sound button as we got a split second of music/noise when there shouldn't have been any, but that didn't spoil anything for me.

Jenny Harwood sourced the brilliant costumes, Marilyn Carr did the Scenery Art and Dan Miller the graphic design. I was really impressed by the set scenery, which was wonderfully designed, and changed really quickly.

There is just one more performance of "Cinderella" at Burton Joyce Village Hall which is tonight (Saturday) at 7.30 so get your silver slipper skates on!