CINDERELLA Hardup it has to be said is something of a dreamer.
Longing to meet the love of her life and transform her humdrum home life for the better.
Holding onto this dream however has become something of challenge with her father first to be struck by cupid’s arrow, announcing the arrival of a new stepmother on the scene, and inheriting two new sisters for Cinders in the form of Silly Cilla and Dizzy Daisy.
“There’s no excuse for you,” barks Daisy on first meeting the kind hearted Cinderella.
The gruesome twosome soon launch a campaign aimed at destroying Cinders’ dream and insuring that they win the prize of the charming young Prince for themselves.
But they didn’t bank on Cinderella’s group of erstwhile pals, best buddy Buttons and a helping hand in the form of her fairy godmother.
Will Cinderella get it together with her Prince Charming and shall she go to the ball?
It’s panto season again and the good news this year is that Rhyl Pavilion Theatre’s offering is one of the best in recent memory.
Fun and froth, combined with a top-notch cast, jaw-dropping costumes and sets, a smart, fast paced script classy musical accompaniment, and stunning special effects provide a production with bags of pizzazz.
Although the cast is headed by ex-Corrie actress and Bad Girls star Amanda Barrie, whose comic timing, learnt while working alongside legendary comics like Frankie Howerd, Benny Hill and of course the Carry On gang is clearly evident in her role as the absent-minded Fairy Godmother, every performer shines.
Rhyl’s Rebecca Trehearn and a noble Mostyn Lawrence as the lovelorn Cinders and Prince Charming invite us to join their quest for love, while Don Crann as Baron Hardup and Adam Philpott as Prince Charming’s right-hand man
Dandini bring more warmth to this festive masterpiece.
Dublin’s Derek Moran, previously a successful children’s television presenter, also uses his skills to win over the young members of the audience, encouraging everyone to help him help Cinders.
For adult enjoyment there is the outstanding Jamie Morris and Tarot Joseph whose outrageous jokes, over the top costumes and viper-like one liners and putdowns are reminiscent of Paul O’Grady’s alter-ego Lily Savage at her best.
It would be easy to justify paring down a pantomime production and cutting corners - we are in the middle of a recession after all.
But Cinderella if anything is bigger and better than any panto I’ve seen in recent years and that is credit to producers UK Productions, director David Lloyd-Jones and musical director, Wyn Pearson, and production manager Andy Batty, seemingly determined to not let standards slip - supported in this task brilliantly by members of The Gay harris ancers and North Wales School of Dancing.
Over the years my experience of panto has been mixed with high-points being classic turns from Ken Dodd and Les Dawson at The Davenport Theatre Stockport and low-points being the Austrailian soap star invasion of the early 1990s but I’m pleased to say that the fantastic Cinderella at The Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl, is more Les Dennis and Stefan Dennis.
Cinderella is at The Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl, until January 9.
Tickets are available by calling the Box Office on 01745 33 00 00.