Cinderella

Cinderella Programme Cover

A pantomime by Rex Walford & Iris Lloyd

Director - Mike Sparks
Musical Director - Carole Clarke
Choreographer - Anne Fisher
Production Manager - Siobhán O'Neill


December 2001

Wednesday 5th at 7.45pm
Thursday 6th at 7.45pm
Friday 7th at 7.45pm
Saturday 8th at 3.00pm and 7.45pm


There are some pictures on the Cinderella gallery page

The full programme [190K pdf] for this production is available from the archive

Act 1

1. The Market Place, Stoneybroke
2. A Corridor in Stoneybroke Castle
3. The One Wish Well in the Wishing Wood
4. A Haunted Path in the Woods
5. The Boudoir, Stoneybroke Castle
6. The Kitchen, Stoneybroke Castle

Act 2

1. Outside the Palace
2. The Palace Ballroom
3. Outside the Palace
4. The Kitchen, Stoneybroke Castle
5. The Castle Yard
6. The Palace Ballroom

Cast
Baron Hardup of StoneybrokePaul Sparks
CinderellaRuth Griffiths
MirandaLaura Lovett
Baroness Hardup of StoneybrokeJudith Shrank
EvadneAlan Jobson
AriadneLaurie Heatherington
ButtonsDavid Constable
Charlie SteppinSally Martin
Fred GrabbittLynda Gordon
DandiniJessica Mori
Fairy GodmotherMargaret Johnson
Prince CharmingVictoria Harris
FlunkeyStewart Shrank
The KingBill Davey
Chorus (villagers, coachmen, ball guests)Marianne Bigg
Jill Brooksbank
Ann Hefford
Mari I'Anson
Jesse Stephens
Andrea Wood
 
Band
PianoCarole Clarke
CelloJill Clarke
FluteKirsty Tavendale
GuitarHarry Mackie
Drums & PercussionCharles Harvey
 
Production Team
Stage ManagerSiobhán O'Neill
    assisted bySue Sparks
Set ConstructionDavid Constable
Mike Sparks
Scenic ArtistMari I'Anson
    assisted byJill Brooksbank
Victoria Harris
CostumesJenny Sparks
Irene Sparks
PropsVera Mitchell
LightingBrian Clayfield
Michael Abbott-Lane
Jon Sparks
PromptBetty Robertson
Rehearsal PianistKevin Vockerodt
Front of House Manager John Savage
Box OfficeBetty Burgess
Norman Burgess
Programme & PublictyDavid Constable

Wedgewood writes...

In his programme notes, Director Mike Sparks said that the Guild Players 'try to present a traditional approach to pantomime, including as many of the expected and anticipated features as possible'. This was certainly so with their surprisingly good production of Cinderella on 5th to 8th December.

This is arguably the most difficult Pantomime to pull off from an audience point of view. The tale is so well known with its rags to riches story, very familiar characters, well trailed and anticipated phrases, and popular special effects.

What struck me first about this production was the stunning scenery. Not surprising to learn then that this was produced by Mari I'Anson who many locals will recognise as a significant artist in her own right. Mari's sets were amply complimented by the bright and well thought out costumes provided by Jenny and Irene Sparks.

Pantomimes like this are a nightmare to review, because where do you start with a company of twenty, all of whom had at least something to say. This, of course, is where amateur groups can gain over the professional offerings who are constrained by budgets and profit motives. It can also be the point where they fail.

The Guild Players were helped by the script they had chosen by Rex Walford and Iris Lloyd, who wrote this particular offering deliberately for the amateur stage. So whilst everyone had something to say, no one got out of sync with the others. They also had some 'old hands' in the cast to carry the Ugly Sisters (Laurie Heatherington and Alan Jobson) and a wickedly unpleasant Baroness Hardupp in Judith Shrank. This was a splendid combination of experienced actors obviously enjoying their roles. Paul Sparks (Baron Hardupp) provided a suitably 'hang-dog' foil.

David Constable (Buttons) injected energy every time he arrived on stage and Sally Martin and Lynda Gordon (the Brokers Men) presented us with a music hall double act as they unsuccessfully sought to remove the Baron's effects! The Fairy Godmother (Margaret Johnson) delivered all the appropriate lines to an accompanyment of flashes, bangs and smoke.

Ruth Griffiths was clear and confident as Cinderella; a good singing voice and nice presentation. Newcomer to the group, Victoria Harris, stood out as Prince Charming. Another Guild Players Panto regular, Jessica Mori, was a stridingly good Dandini in love with Miranda (Laura Lovett), a girl inexplicably on roller skates.

Bill Davey and Stewart Shrank were King and Flunkey respectively. The chorus, on for most of some acts, were Marianne Bigg, Jill Brooksbank, Ann Hefford, Mari I'Anson, Jesse Stephens and Andrea Wood.

But what about the effects - how did they turn the pumpkin and mice into a carriage for Cinders, and how did she get transformed into her Ball gown in a twinkling of the eye. Now that would be telling. Suffice to say that it did all happen as it should.

With music directed by Carole Clarke, choreography from Anne Fisher and lighting by Brian Clayfield, The Guild Players delivered the goods again.

'Wedgewood'

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