RAPPORT FRINGE ... MARGINAAL VERSLAG ... FRINGE BERICHT
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Cinderella
Verdict: Magical
Cinderella is a traditional pantomime with a cast of 24 humans, various animals alive and stuffed, a fairy or two, and 3-piece orchestra. It runs at 2 hours 15 minutes, including a 15-minute interval.
St Gregory The Great legendarily mistook English children in the slave market for 'angels not Angles' in 6th Century Rome. Cinderella doesn't date back quite that far - perhaps to 'The Story of Finetta; the Cinder Girl' published in 1721 - but it does open with angels.
These particular ones aren't in slavery (come on, life in the theatre's not that bad), they're a team of remarkably well-behaved and practised little girls from Pumpkins the team of Aylesbury children on stage tonight. There are 2 alternating teams of 10, each including 4 teenage actors; and there are 4 reserves.
There's been a local competition for months for the coveted places, and probably lots of gore spilt, and lasting warfare ahead, between sets of parents that such competitions occasionally divide. Coincidentally perhaps, after Britt Ekland's scene-setting opening, the curtain rises - to the fabulous full-cast song and dance Tally Ho! - on blood sports in full cry.
Cinderella's the servant girl to her ugly sisters Salmonella & Listeria on whom their kindly dad Baron Hardup reluctantly lavishes his cash to the despair of his servant Buttons, who's in love with Cinderella. Prince Charming and valet Dandini meet Cinderella fleetingly and the Prince falls in love with her. To find her again, the Prince organises a ball, for which Cinderella's Fairy Godmother conjures her into a princess with dress, coach, and coachmen.
Prince and Princess dance in love, but at midnight the magic stops, and Cinderella runs away leaving only a glass slipper. The Prince eventually finds her, as only Cinderella's foot fits the shoe, and they marry. Pantomime (it's mainly a British theatre form - apparently there's no pantomime tradition in America - it's been suggested this contributes to the difference in their sense of humour)
requires the Ugly Sisters to be played by men; and Dandini & Prince Charming to be played by women.
This is a delightful production, certain to enchant children and, on quite a different level, their parents. The reckless beauty of Samantha Hughes negates any possibility of her Prince Charming being mistaken for a bloke. Principal boys are often androgenous, possibly bred out of Julie Andrews and Julian Clary. This is not the case tonight - Samantha Hughes is a Prince who is most certainly all woman.
Combined with the elegance and grace of gorgeous Emma Gilmour's ultra-feminine Cinderella, the love scenes between prince and servant girl look more like girl-on-girl action from The Well Of Loneliness played by the AGM of the Friends of Dorothy. Wonderful for Aylesbury dads (perhaps Aylesbury Duck is rhyming slang for something quite exotic) - and likely a few of the mums too.
Add to this a couple of magnificent Uglies - Mark Siney's subtly-constructed presentation of Salmonella and Matt Hodgson's deftly-considered and delivered Lysteria - and the stage becomes camper than a weekend in Brighton.
Richard Costello (Best Actor - Fringe Report Awards 03) delivers an excellent Buttons. His job's to work the audience, and Richard Costello does a great and affectionate job with the children and adults, batting out gifts with a squash racket, and conducting the fabulous crowd song Three Little Fishes (Boop Boop Dittum Dattum Wattum Choo).
Lovely Britt Ekland shows her almost half-century's experience as an actor in her remarkable performance as Fairy Godmother. Star of more than 50 films, Britt Ekland's sexy Swedish accent and elegant beauty continue to work their theatrical magic. She also has a dog, Tequila, acting here as Tequina. Tequila's a Teacup Chihuahua.
Other animals include patient and well-schooled snow-white Shetland Ponies Mollie and Marigold, both of whom behave impeccably as Coach-Horses. There are 2 rats (for footmen), a frog (for the driver), and two mice (to become horses) too, but these are stuffed.
Annelly James has the major part of Dandini. Again, not much chance of this pretty and elegant actor passing for a lad. She is also Choreographer, designing and co-ordinating every dance move for the animals, the adult cast, the teenagers, and the children - as well as dancing herself.
Annelly James dances divinely - her elegance is breathtaking - but never upstages the rest of the cast - a fine professional actor. Her achievement with the delightful child actors - who add so much to this staging - is a tribute to her patience and skill. The spectacular dance scenes reveal her vivid creative imagination.
Richard Carr presents The Breakfast Show for Aylesbury's well-known regional broadcaster Mix 96. He brings style and discreet humour to the Town Cryer. David O'Dell's barely in his thirties, but delivers a magnificent and sympathetic old cove in Baron Hardup, playing him with a dash of the late Leonard Rossiter.
Samantha Hughes brings a profound experience and understanding of pantomine to her Prince Charming. It's a truly classy performance - sensitive and authoritative. Emma Gilmour dances with heart-melting grace, she has the charisma, beauty, and ability to invest the depth into Cinderella necessary to make this central part her own - and carry the dreams of the children in the audience with her.
The Adult Chorus provide much of the drive behind the production. Gregory Sims, Nicola Wills, Marcus Ashley, Kelly Black are individually outstanding, and work seamlessly together. Their dancing is graceful and a delight to watch.
They are a fine ensemble - however, Nicola Wills's performance is unique. Without seeking separate attention, her dance and characterisation stand out. With a flash of her eyes and toss of her mane of black hair, she conjures up a Spanish gypsy dancer - who fits perfectly into this magical tale. There's an elegance of movement and subtlety in Nicola Wills's performance - an élan that bears the stamp of a fine leading actress.
Pantomine needs strong song and dance, and this one delivers some cracking routines, including: Tally Ho!; Button Up Your Overcoat; Daniel Bedingfield's If You're Not The One; Having A Ball (salsa-style); Cinderella, Cinderella; Sisters; S Club 7's Bring It All Back; Leigh Harline & Ned Washington's When You Wish Upon A Star; David Rose's The Stripper; Go Prince Charming!, to Greased Lightning from Grease; The Perfect Year, from Sunset Boulevard; You're As Young As You Feel; Emma Bunton's Maybe (I'm In Love); Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake; Three Little Fishes (Boop Boop Dittum Dattum Wattum Choo); Having A Ball.
Cinderella is a story about dreams. Not the ones in the night, but our timeless dream from childhood to death of what good might come. When the audience is invited to trust and believe in the magic that hope may prevail, we do so readily, because it's the private thought we keep at the back of our minds every day. To connect with this takes a special kind of genius.
In this staging, the genius is supplied by director Annie Wensak who pulls together all the threads of a magical story by Jeanette Ranger & Christopher Lillicrap to create theatrical gold. She's helped by some magnificent painted backdrops (Scullery, Hunting Scene, Village Green as examples), and perfect costumes (Wardrobe - Kinga Hajnal, Rusza Kiprosz).
There's skillful lighting design by Nik Ryal. There's an excellent 3-piece orchestra providing the live music that gives this production its particular zing from Hal Morris, Ronnie Keys & musical director Simon Townley.
Samantha McCaffrey manages Aylesbury Civic Centre (it's a theatre, less the name misleads). Under her enlightened leadership it has a fine reputation for major works (from the West End - Reduced Shakespeare Company, The Vagina Monologues, Stones In His Pockets), diversity - (Edinburgh 03 smash-hit Irish clairvoyant) Sharon Neill, and fun (Prince Charles Leicester Square originating Singalonga Sound of Music). This Cinderella is an excellent finale to the Centre's achievements in 2003, and opening full of promise for 2004.
