Who needs big names anyway?

Dec 20 2010 By Barry Dix

Cinderella, Theatre Royal, Windsor

Call us sad if you like, but we pantomime aficionados always anticipate the announcement of the cast engaged for the annual Christmas extravaganza at our local theatre as eagerly as cricket fans await details of the England tour party for the Ashes series.

When news came through earlier this year of the actors selected to grace the stage of the Theatre Royal Windsor for its production of Cinderella, I must admit to being more than a tad disappointed.

The core of the cast is made up of a television gardener with a penchant for constructing water features, someone I’d never heard of from Britain’s Got Talent (probably because I’ve never watched it) and a husband and wife duo from former teen favourites Steps and Hear’say.

Grumpy old bloke that I am, I had hoped to see at least one theatrical ‘name’ of the calibre of those who’ve trodden the boards in panto at this exquisite old venue in the past. I’m talking about the likes of Ernie Wise, Anna Cartaret, Peter Davidson and that bloke who plays Boycey in Only Fools and Horses.

So last Tuesday evening I sat in the Theatre Royal waiting for the curtain to go up, convinced the performers were not going to up to the job.

How wrong could I have been?

Charlie Dimmock, as the Fairy Godmother, immediately shows she is more than capable of swapping pruning shears for sparkling wand in an assured and word perfect performance, though admittedly, less than three minutes had passed before the words water feature got a predictable mention in one of her perfectly delivered rhyming couplets.

And Kevin Cruise (aka Martin Cabble) is a revelation, blasting all my prejudices against TV talent shows out of the water. As Buttons he held the show together, never overdoing the campness and obviously thoroughly enjoying himself in the role.

He’s one of those old fashioned-style performers (and I mean that as a compliment) for whom pantomime could have been invented and his range of skills even stretched to dealing tactfully and amusingly with a particularly precocious youngster who was among those shepherded up on stage for the singalong sequence on the evening I attended.

Then there’s Lisa Scott-Lee, formerly of Steps who, likewise, has gone up in my estimation with some delightful singing in perfect portrayal of Cinderella. Her real-life husband, ex-Hear’say member Johnny Shentall, as Prince Charming, is equally at home in his role.

Christopher Beeny (Last of the Summer Wine) and Steven Blakeley(Heartbeat) were, needless to say, unrecognisable as the Ugly Sisters Salmonella and Lysteria. Apart from a few tired old jokes early on – please drop the John Lennon jewellery jangling line in particular – their timing and ad-libs are in the true spirit of panto.

Jess Conrad, who won the equivalent of The X Factor 50 years ago, proves he’s still more than a match for the young ones and, despite being in his 70s, has a voice equally able to either belt out a ballad or deliver a sensitive love song.

A word too for Graham Newell as Dandini, a part he plays with great panache.

This being Windsor, the singing and dancing from the ensemble is spectacular, the scenery superb and the setting exquisite. And yes, there are real ponies in a breathtakingly beautiful scene where Cinders appears in her crystal coach.

Who needs ‘big names’ anyway?

* Cinderella is at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, until January 9. Contact the box office on 01753 853888 or www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk