Review – David Bingham in discussion with Maureen Larkin March 2023
This was the Players 19th Pantomime since 1976 – which was also Cinderella.
The producer/director and script writer was Joan Evans – with her now usual help from Maureen Larkin (Matilda Merryweather) and Derek Loyd (George Merryweather) in the slapstick scenes.
Anthony Bunting – who went on to take on the role of the Dame in many future productions, played the Lord Chamberlain.
The Ugly Sisters were excellently played with the required exaggeration by David Clarke (Angostura) and Michael Johnson (Sarsparilla).
Many stalwarts of Loddon Players also took leading roles, Pat Potter (King Cole, Rosy Kipps (Baroness Skint), Alexandra Chilvers (Esmerelda). Joan Evans herself played Angelica.
The horse was played by future producer/directors – Ann Turner and Jane Chapman (nee Evans).
Barclays Bank Manager David Bolam played Buttons whilst his daughter Laura played Cinderella.
Musical accompaniment was in the usual extremely capable hands of Beryl Carver and choreography was under the skilful tutelage of Joan Gisborne with dancers from her school of dancing.
The show, in January 1994 played to packed houses at the Lecture Hall, George Lane Loddon, and the profits, as usual, were distributed to local causes chosen by the Players.
