Cinderella

DATE: 17th February 2022

SOCIETY: SS Simon & Jude's A.D.S

VENUE: S.S.Simon and Jude's School

TYPE OF PRODUCTION: Pantomime

DIRECTOR: Vanessa Dean Boardman

CHOREOGRAPHER: Jennifer Dagnall

WRITTEN BY: Alan p. Frayn

Report

Author: Liz Hume-Dawson

S.S.Simon & Jude’s Pantomime production of Cinderella directed by Vanessa Dean-Boardman was certainly going to put you in a good mood on a cold and blustery day in Bolton. As always, Simon and St Jude are all inclusive and very much have a fabulous community spirit. Vanessa certainly accomplished the feelgood factor and it was lovely to see so many young ones now coming through the ranks.

The set worked well, and the reveal of the ballroom was good. Cinderella’s coach looked magical as did the transformation scene - smoke included! Set Design and Painting by Colin Dean, Vanessa Dean-Boardman, John Mulraney and Alison Timmins. Costumes were bright and cheerful and in lovely colour co-ordination - Wardrobe by Stella Crank and Chris Wynn. Choreography was by Jennifer Dagnall who managed to get the most out of the cast and some very cute young dancers (lovely to see their enthusiasm!) All enhanced by Lighting and Sound Wayne Gibson and Sam Dickinson.

Colin Dean, who was responsible for Cinderella’s beautiful Coach, also played Baron Hardup, who was glad his wife’s credit card was lost as the person who had stolen it now spent less than his wife - said wife was played by Denise Anderson as the Baroness Hardup. Fairy Godmother who leads us through the Pantomime helping Cinderella is played by Rachel Fender. David Crank playing Chambers with his eloquent voice.

The comedy duo Played by Nicola Walsh as Bodget and Lyndsay Shepherd as Leggett had some very funny moments and worked well together - not sure I  would ever employ them though (their names enough to send anyone running)!

Jennifer Dagnall, who was also the choreographer, played Dandini and, as the story goes, she swaps character with the Prince well after meeting the two ugly sisters - she soon didn’t want that job! Having some very funny moments too - well done!

The two ugly sisters played by Suzanne Smith as Grizelda and Ben Stanier as Gertrude were hilarious, so glad I was not a bloke in the audience - it would have been scary!  It was bad enough getting wet with the water guns then when mummy dear, Baroness Hardup, came out with the big guns (I just put my coat over my head)! I love that they did not dress the same and had their own identity. (Shoes to die for, Ben!) They had great rapport and kept up the interaction with the audience. When they came into the auditorium we were definitely on edge, in a funny way. At the end all I could see was men with lipstick kisses on their forehead – hilarious! Ben, I think you have found your niche in Panto-land. Hilarious that they both actually loved the punishment dished out by Chambers - Shantay!

S.S.Simon & Jude’s have a number of young performers who are ones to watch out for - Rachel Slater playing Cinderella took the decision to underplay her role, which I think worked well: she let the action go on around her - sometimes the Principal Girl can be seen as wet and  I think her choice worked and came across as a very kind helpful character in the midst of some of the big characters.  Rachel has really matured as a performer – lovely!

A breath of fresh air was Kurtis Greenhalgh playing Buttons who wanted you to shout every time someone went near his bunny in a box (don’t ask!) - for someone so young to get the audience going and keep them was quite a feat. Great energy. I actually think he could have been used more - fab-u-lous!

Prince Charming, played by Caitlin Owen, was a breath of fresh air! Strong and capable as the Prince and great singing voice, I loved her characterization - quirky and bringing something a bit different to the character – great!

Last but not least to Hagan the Horse who was the butt of a lot of jokes - played by Hannah Bowerbank and Emman Cunningham.

Hannah created some lovely moments from the I Love Sausage Rolls song to the Eastenders-style dramatic moment. The rumble of excitement at the end from audience was lovely to hear from young and old. I hear often “oooh, that’s the best you ever done” or “oh that’s the best yet”…. But S.S. Simon & Jude it certainly was - well done to cast and crew!

Thank you for making my guest and I so welcome.