Photo courtesy of Fareham Live
By Tim Saunders
A feel good pantomime that leaves you feeling elated. That’s the rip-roaring success of Fareham Live’s first pantomime, Cinderella, produced by award-winning Imagine Theatre.
When Buttons (Paul Burling, Britain’s Got Talent) arrives on the scene I’m not sure about him but soon warm to his wit and charm and admire his comedic skill with excellent impersonations of such greats as Frank Spencer, Wallace and Gromit, Scooby Doo and I’m sure I even detect a David Walliams.
“He works really hard,” says my wife, Caroline. “He seamlessly goes from one thing to another. Watching him sliding across the stage and falling over is great fun, too!” Buttons is certainly the glue that holds this show together.
“My favourite part is Buttons’ story about Nora told with chocolate bars,” adds son Henry (8), who finds this really amusing.
We enjoy the setting of this pantomime, sitting in the stalls, the new velour covered seats are well-made and comfortable with just enough legroom. It’s a shame that the orchestra is hidden above our heads to the right but we can just spy the bass guitarist.
Ugly sisters (Gareth Mitchell and Garnon Davies) are a joy with their fabulous costumes and humour. Again they take a little while to grow on you but they do. Their dazzling appearance in Stalkers crisp packets draws plenty of chuckles.
More fun is had in the 12 days of Christmas… my beautician gave to me….. lots of silliness here.
Dandini and Prince Charming (brothers AJ and Curtis Pritchard, Strictly and Hollyoaks) provide laughs and enthralling dancing as do Cinderella (Rhiannon Bacchus) and her entourage of young dancers.
Fairy Godmother (Eleanor Wainwright) provides some enjoyable rhyming narration while the scenery is well produced and the scene changes are slick.
Pantomime can be really magical for children and adults alike and it truly is when the horse-drawn carriage arrives on stage and actually flies into the air….
I really enjoy watching my wife laugh, this is priceless and it’s how I gauge a good pantomime. If you haven’t seen it, GO!
Runs until Jan 5.
