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Cinderella

Published Friday 16 December 2005 at 18:00 by John Thaxter

Any doubts one had about a chap playing Principal Boy are swept aside by John Barrowman’s dashing, musically-assured Prince Charming. Although just a pantomime moment, there was a thrilling charge of romantic energy as he and Naomi Wilkinson’s delightful Cinderella first clocked each other in the woods, and more pleasurable shivers as the couple danced at the Ball.

Indeed the whole evening is a joy, with freshly-designed sets and costumes by Terry Parsons, a transformation scene complete with pure white Shetland ponies, and a lovable Buttons by Peter Duncan - who also directs with aplomb - and does a splashy wallpapering special with comedian Tim Vine as Dandini.

With a witty script by Paul Hendy, all is well from the moment the ever youthful Susan Hampshire steps on stage as a twinkling Fairy Godmother, to reveal a lively village hoe-down featuring a talented troupe of eight young dancers, who later dazzle the eye with their Gypsy czardas, fizzing with sexual frisson - a million miles from ho-hum show dancing.

Richard Wilson is also a bumbling delight as a Caledonian Baron Hardup, while Dave Lynn and Stevie Marc offer outrageously camp Ugly Sisters, ending with their La Cage aux Folles glamour effect for the walkdown.

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