"Cinderella" by Westfield Folkhouse.
Mansfield Palace Theatre.
Always remember that pantomime is not just for Christmas, it's for all year round. Many people associate pantomime with Christmas fare, and I know that we are still in Winter, but pantomime has no "best before" date, as Westfield Folkhouse show in this production.
I doubt that there isn't a soul who doesn't know the story of Cinderella, her wicked step-sisters and their equally wicked mother, and everything that goes with this, literally, rags to riches story, so I won't go through the basic storyline.
So, here we are with my first review of 2025, and you really can't beat a heart-warming, feelgood and fun piece of theatre to kickstart the year. Having experienced my first production from Westfield Folkhouse for the first time last January with "Sleeping Beauty", it was a no brainer that I would want to return for this year, and I was not disappointed at all with this production, their 85th.
Westfield have kept this show very traditional, but the writing is peppered with so many up to date nods that, while being completely traditional, it's also extremely fresh, with some tweaks to the original story that actually betters the flow of the storyline. Most pantos will perform the scene with the ghost and the Dame, which at times can drag on a bit. There's a twist with that scene which only includes three characters, one being a brilliantly creepy character, which is not an actor with a sheet thrown over his head, but something much more substantial!
Chloe Barratt-Reid is Cinderella. Last year Chloe also headed up the cast as Sleeping Beauty, and maintains the quality to be the leading lady in this show. Her voice is absolutely beautiful and it's obvious that being on stage is something that comes extremely easy to her.
Amy Briscoe is Prince Charming and Lynn Roberts is Lord Dandini. Panto is made up of wonderful pairings and this is the first of the pairings, as we all know that Dandini and The Prince swap roles in order for The Prince to find his perfect woman. Lovely chemistry between the pair, and because the pair are so well matched on stage, even I was getting confused at which was which. A nice traditional pairing, especially with the costumes.
Matt Jayes plays Buttons. Last year I remember commenting on just how good, and mainstream sounding - that is a compliment by the way - his voice is. This year we get to hear more of Matt's vocals. He has a really nice tonal quality, and you hear every word he sings (how else would one be able to recognise the clever parodying of these catchy tunes), especially in songs like "Please Mr Postman". Swapping from last year's baddie role, this year he is Mr Nice Guy, showing his flexibility in his acting skills.
Baron Hardup is played by Phil Pincott. Again, a very traditional, under the thumb style Baron Hardup - I've seen some of these kind of roles turn out to get the upper hand, but Phil's character remains wonderfully under the thumb right to the very end, when he..... well, no, I won't say what happens at the end, because there is a twist with the Baron and the Baroness, so watch out for that twist!
Baroness Hardup is played by Christine Oscroft. Christine looks as if she was revelling in the real nastiness of this character, as well as the responses that she was getting from this audience on Saturday afternoon. As soon as she walked on stage, you knew straight away that she was a bad one, even without saying a word. Looks can be very powerful, and Christine has a very distinct and powerful visual image. Blend that with the script that she has and the Baroness really is a nasty piece of work. What I also loved was that at the final bows, the audience didn't know whether to applaud or boo, and that is the proof of a really good actor to be able to make an audience become emotionally involved in a stage character. Deliciously dastardly.
Where would a pantomime be without the "ugly sisters", and here we have Hernia and Nausea played superbly by Garry Hill and Martin Belcher. I've seen many "Ugly Sisters" over the years and this pair are up there with some of the best of them. Have I mentioned their costumes? No, oh that comes later. There's all the usual banter between sisters and the script for this pair is, as with all the rest of the script, brilliantly written, and Garry and Martin execute it with fire. Another fantastic pairing.
David Gell plays Freddie Flatt and Brandon Stafford is Freddie's funny foil, Barry Broke, who both work at the Palace. Carrying on from last year's brilliantly comic personas, straight away we are told what to shout at the stage when they come on stage - you may be able to guess from the characters' names. Chemistry is not a thing that you can learn to the level that this pair show. Last year I compared them to early Cannon and Ball, and I stand by that comparison this year, especially with the scene at the Prince's party where Freddie has to perform magic acts with Barry being his assistant. Watch any great double act comedy scene and there is a certain amount of frustration and violence from one side, and Barry is on the receiving end of Freddie's pushing around; all making for some more classic comedy.
Theresa Stafford plays Fairy Godmother. What I love about this character are the jokes she has, and the gentle knocks, especially the one about the bus pass that she has due to her age, after trying to fly away, and as she goes off, her comment, which is a lovely comedic elbow in the ribs of political decision. Panto is one of those stages - again if you'll pardon the pun - where political humour is welcomed, and as I am heading towards that time of my life (in a few years' time, not just yet), I particularly enjoyed these knocks.
There's also eight senior chorus dancers and three sets of eight junior chorus dancers. All groups gave the utmost in professional performances and never missed a beat. Their routines were like watching something from the heady days of Buzby Berkeley with their elegance and stylings.
The Townspeople were played by Millie Beamish, Grace Hackett, Georgia Hallam, Kacey Hartin, Francesca Hornsby, Melissa Humphreys, Courtney Roberts and Daisy Seymour.
The babes of the Town were played by Isabella Alvey, Freyja Edson, Lois Hibbert, Cora Littler, Elsie-May Mehew, Lyra Mowbray, Caitlin Pincott, Bonnie Radzynski, Isla Senior, Frankie Spinks, Ellie Wardle, Amelia Wilkinson, Elsie Darnell, Olivia Egner, Martha Isterling, Niamh Lock, Atia Morrell, Elsie Norman, Rosie Radzynski, Elsie Robinson, Billie Leigh Small, Macey-Jayne Townsend, Ivy Warren and Ava Wilson.
Directed by Brandon Stafford, this is a tight show with some wonderfully timed comedy sequences and exquisite choreography.
Choreographed by Lynn Roberts, some of these routines reminded me of some of those brilliant choreographed pieces from shows like Sunday Night At The Palladium, back when weekend TV was really worth watching. It's classy choreography that does not try to be too clever, and the dance groups involved delivered with competency.
Set design is of the same quality that you'd expect from a professional panto. From the glam and glitter of the stage curtain all the way back to the scenery, the set only added to the professional image that Westfield have built on over the last eighty four years. They have obviously chosen wisely where these sets are sourced from. And look out for Cinderella's carriage.
The costumes are mainly due to Wardrobe Mistress Julie Wright with additional costumes by Imagine Theatre Ltd. These costumes are everything that you want to see from a story like "Cinderella", especially those for Hernia and Nausea, whose costumes became more and more elaborate and over the top. Just wait until you see their final bows costumes. Glitter and glamour are the order for the day, every day this panto is on stage.
Sound design is by Rob Beech. I've always found that the majority of shows at Mansfield Palace have a wonderful sound, and this is another one of those shows. You could hear every sound and every vocal very clearly; an area of the production and technical side of the show that has had a lot of attention paid to it and skilfully operated and designed.
Not sure who is responsible for the lighting design, but whoever you are, the design was brilliant as was the operation of the lighting design. Spot on!
The stage management of this panto is also an area that needs to be highlighted. The show itself is two hours and forty minutes, with interval, so making sure that the cast, crew and scenery is managed accurately is incredibly important. Not only for the smooth running and timekeeping of the show, but also maintaining that no one is left hanging on stage, and the audience looking at a stage that does not have any entertainment on it. Eddie Ratcliffe ensured the smoothness and constant flow of this production.
Steven Ratcliffe, Patrick Lowe, Braian Devereaux, Matt Henson and Tom Slack make up the Westfield Folkhouse backstage crew.
James Barrows leads the live band as Musical Director and the songs are arranged by Martin Belcher. Listen carefully to the lyrics of the songs used in this production and see just how clever they have been parodied to fit the show and storyline. The band make a big sound, especially when you find out that there's only James on keyboards, Joe Jackson on guitar, Mark Davis on drums and Andy Metcalfe on bass guitar.
Yet again, the choice of music is catchy and every song is well known, with some disco bangers in there that will get your feet going and hands clapping.
For anyone who has seen Westfield Folkhouse Pantomimes before, you know what a great piece of theatre to expect. For those who have never seen this group before, go and see them. The scripts are sharp, the acting is great, the comedy is only cheesy when required to be, the singing is fab and the whole production is joyous.
"Cinderella" is on Sunday 12 January 2025 and then Tuesday 14th to Sunday 19th January 2025 and tickets are only £9.00 (with a 50p theatre booking fee). An absolute bargain that would cost at least double that price at many other theatres for the same entertainment value.
