The story of a once beautiful town hall falling into rack and ruin but being saved, just in the nick of time, by the local community sounds like a fairytale, but here we are in the stunning interior of the revitalised Portobello Town Hall and the successful staging of the family favourite pantomime, Cinderella.
Big, bold, colourful and entertaining. This Stage Door Entertainment, production of the timeless classic, could perhaps do with a bit of a reboot, riven as it is with stereotypes and outdated values, but nevertheless, from the reactions of the almost full house, still appears to hit every mark.
Tommie Travers, Musical Director and co-Producer, correctly puts music centre stage, in a show which is jam-packed with banging tunes and great singing, and with a leading lady, Amy Campbell in the titular role, blessed with a stunning voice and a high register, sharp enough to cut a Christmas cake.
Also high in comedy value, often at the expense of localities Kirkcaldy, Niddrie and Prestonpans, perfectly lead by the double act ugly sisters, Wonky and Stonky, Harrison MacNeill and Leo MacNeill, whose gigantic, rugby-player appearance certainly adds to the hilarity. A right pair of bruisers, but with great comic timing!
Prince Charming is played with fresh-faced nativity and world-weary resignation by Martin Mitchell, who wonders what it would like to be ‘normal’. Helping him cheer up and navigate is street-wise man-servant Dandini, played by Ollie Hiemann. Their early number, On My Way, has the crowd rooting for them.
The story of an orphaned girl serving as a maid to her uncaring step mother and two ugly step sisters, but finding escape with the help of her fairy godmother to go to the ball, meet and marry her Prince Charming. The allegory, that only a man can rescue Cinders from her hardship is not exactly progressive, but then again it is a fairytale!
The first act is very nicely paced, Director Lewis Baird getting the story trotting then galloping towards the interval and finishing just perfectly, shortly after the immortal line, ‘I can’t go to the ball, they ate my invite”!, with the inspired choice of song, Unredeemable poignantly and powerfully delivered by Amy Campbell, complete with fake snow effect. Brilliant!
Inevitably, after such a great first half it does get a bit draggy after the interval, and I’m not just talking the ugly sisters, limping towards the inevitably happy ending and tropic panto antics.
Make no mistake, this is a very good production, but given the undoubted talent here, a little braver approach, a modern re-write perhaps, and a live orchestra, you can’t help thinking that this could have been even better. But maybe that’s just me being a grinch!
Playing until 23rd December. https://www.portobellotownhall.org/events
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 9th December 2023
North West End UK Rating:
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