This is an all-dancing interpretation of the traditional fairy tale and it is a winner. Obviously, the storyline is paper thin and, depending how you see it, this could be percieved as a weakness.
But there is no fear of that here. A good director and talented actors can make anything happen onstage and Bev Berridge has drawn sterling performances from her well-dressed company, who bring us energetic, uplifting, company numbers, along with good character work where it matters - namely from Tom Yeates, who is a fine Prince Charming, and Sam Dorrance as the kind of beautiful Cinderella who melts your heart.
There are surprises, mainly in the magic transport area. Cinders goes off to the ball in time-honoured fashion, but her curiously-coloured coach is drawn by what mostly resembled a couple of wacky soft toys. The theatre was packed with children, who roared with laughter, presumably because they expected silver ponies.
Elsewhere, Jamie Bannerman is a bouncy, Jack-the-Lad Dandini, while Andy Pelos is an energetic Buttons, who the children clearly looked on as their special mate. Ian Smith and Michael Batchelor are sharply droll in remarkable costumes which, for this reviewer, recalled Danny La Rue in his heyday.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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