The Stage

Cinderella

Published Wednesday 17 December 2008 at 16:55 by Scott Matthewman

Originally slated for demolition earlier this year, the Civic Centre’s temporary stay of execution enables Aylesbury to receive a traditional pantomime that excels in all the right places.

The undoubted stars have to be ugly sisters Rita and Wanda, played by Mark Two and Jamie Steen. Walking the fine line between amusing the audience and coming across as a believable threat to Cinderella’s happiness, they hold the entire show together and display an admirable ability to cope with the most ludicrous wardrobes - and similarly the most ludicrous wardrobe malfunctions. Showing an unusual ugliness of character as well as complexion, the scene in which they force Cinderella to tear up her own invitation to the ball is a shockingly brutal portrayal of bullying that would not feel out of place in a straight piece of theatre.

While some may think Bernie Clifton a bit long in the tooth to be playing Buttons, here he demonstrates why it’s the perfect role for him, engaging with the children in the audience on their own level, while keeping the adults on their toes too. Jonathan Parkin’s Prince Charming gives the strongest vocal performance of the production, despite being lumbered with contemporary pop songs that provide too much repetition and not enough content.

With such strong leads, Shelley Anne Rivers sometimes struggles as Cinders to make much of an impression, but overall there is little room to fault this production.