Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
The wonderous Royal and Derngate pantomime returns for another festive cracker. The venue continues its partnership with Evolution Productions for a fourth year with a new production of Cinderella.
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| The cast of Cinderella. Photo by Pamela Raith |
All the key elements of the story are here in Paul Hendy's script with nods to the world we live in today. Cinderella is seen more as a role model for female empowerment in an early scene we're told that she will only fall in love on her terms and that she cleans at Hardup Hall by choice, not by force.
The magical tale begins with Joanne Clifton's Fairy Twinklethistle entering the stage every time to the Strictly Come Dancing theme song. She does the fairy rhymic couplets each time to different styles of dance. Her movement is naturally brilliant. Clifton is a lovely light presence and brings great charm to the role.
We are swept into the story as Cinderella prepares for her step-sisters' arrival while Prince Charming searches for love and prepares for a royal ball. This classic story of love plays out as you expect with every beat of the story but even if you know what is coming you are kept interested by the performances and the staging.
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| Marcellus Whyte as Prince Charming and Marcavia McCarthy as Cinderella. Photo by Pamela Raith |
At the heart of the production is an excellent Marcavia McCarthy as Cinderella. She is fantastically cast in the role bringing real warmth and charm to the character. She excels vocally and brings great inner strength to the character. As an audience, you really want her to succeed, particularly when she is faced up against the horrible step-sisters.
The step-sisters are played with immaculate skill by Gordon Cooper (who also co-directs) as Aldianna and Matt Daines as Lidleena. Both have flexed their pantomime muscles many times before and their ease in the roles is apparent from the get-go. Their relish the audience's reactions and the boos as they ramp up their abhorrent behaviour. The costumes designed by Michael J Batchelor are magnificent and aid in the delivery of the roles.
Dave Bibby is a great comic talent and impresses as Buttons. He instantly forms a strong relationship with the audience becoming our friend. The relationship with the audience carries throughout the show. He plays the role with nuance and is touching as he declares his love for Cinders only to be put in the friend zone.
Marcellus Whyte is Prince Charming and he befits the name. Together with McCarthy's Cinderella they create a solid relationship that warms your heart. His deputy Andini is played by Andy Day. Day shows real confidence and knows how to work an audience. He is clearly enjoying the role and that really shows as you watch him. He creates solid relationships with the other characters as well as the audience. His vocals are quality.
The 6 piece ensemble (Sophie Binks, Giovanni Bordone, Amy Civil, Chatani Lloyd, Matt Montfort and Samuel Stokes) aid in fleshing out the world of the show and are all tremendous dancers. Samuel Stokes gets a funny couple of moments to impress early on. The ensemble is strengthened further by a young ensemble which is split into two teams.
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| Dave Bibby as Button, Matt Daines as Lidleena, Gordon Cooper as Aldianna and Andy Day as Andini. Photo by Pamela Raith |
Musical director and arranger Garry Jerry returns to the venue again with Liam McCloud on drums and Manolo Polidario on guitar. They bring to life the music that includes 'Hot To Go', 'This Is Me' from The Greatest Showman, and 'You Don't Even Know It' from Everybody's Talking About Jamie. The soundtrack and the incidental music help add to the spectacle of the performance.
The colourful set is designed by Michelle Marden and Stuart Relph with lighting by Jack Weir. The palette of lighting enhances both the light and darker moments. However, at times I did find some of the flashing lights on the proscenium arch a little distracting. The standout transformation scene at the end of the first act is of course a moment of pure magic as the snow falls over the audience.
There's lots of laughter throughout with stand-out moments including a Disney character pun trolley and the Royal and Derngate bench gag. The humour is your usual panto groan-inducing jokes paired with some real wit that will you have you in stitches.
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| Joanne Clifton and the company. Photo by Pamela Raith. |
Whether this is your first Royal and Derngate pantomime or you're a regular attendee you will relish your time at the ball and with this classic fairy tale given another hilarious and fun outing in Northampton. The performance ends on a rousing curtain call sending the audience out on a high and already eagerly awaiting next year’s offering of Peter Pan. Magnificent family entertainment this festive season.
Cinderella plays at Northampton's Royal and Derngate until Tuesday 31st December 2024. Tickets are available from https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/
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