Review – Beccles & Bungay Journal – Jan 1984
Comedy to fore in panto
Cinderella is a story of romance but when the Loddon Pantomime Players take it on, the emphasis is on fun.
Not only does the script, written by the show’s producer Joan Evans, push the performance towards comedy, but also the strength of the comic characters who stand out in the performance.
Their energy and vivacity rather overshadowed the straighter characters who seemed rather limp by comparison.
If Cinderella, the Prince and Buttons could impart a bit more enthusiasm and vigour it would make a good show a great one.
That apart, Cinders (played by Joanna Taylor), and the Prince, (Dawn Carr) and Buttons (Derek Constable) all displayed good singing voices and tackled their nerve-wracking solos with confidence.
Gusto
The scene stealers were, quite naturally, the stepmother, Baroness Broadbottom (Margaret Bunting) and the ugly sisters (Maureen Larkin and Judy Henderson).
Although it was unusual to have all women cast for these three roles, they rose to the occasion with all the gusto required of their parts.
A special mention should go to the hunting party, which consisted of Ray Gisborne, Mike Beach, Pat Potter, and Derek Constable who did a rousing chorus which got a great response from the audience.
Costumes
The young dancers featured throughout the show should also get a mention they were all from the Joan Gisborne Dancing School and were a credit to their teacher.
The backstage crew put in a great effort to make the panto. into a real show. The costumes were superb, almost bordering on those of a professional company, the makeup particularly that of the ugly sisters was also most accomplished.
The show continues tonight, tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night with the evening performances at 7:30 at the Hobart High School, Loddon.
