Here's What They Said About......

Cinderella
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    • Director: Doreen Cockshott
    Musical Director: Eileen Salt
    Dance Director: Lesley Etherington

    Reproduced from The Stretford and Urmston Messenger March 2001

    Show sweeps all before it

    URMSTON Musical Theatre's production of Cinderella didn't have any celebrities in the cast but everyone who took part was a star in their own right. What must be particularly encouraging for this society is the number of talented youngsters they have on their books. The hard part, of course, is keeping hold of these young people when other distractions come into play. If the society can do that, it has a glittering future ahead of it.

    As always, pantomimes live or die by their principals and seasoned producer Doreen Cockshott, a woman with an uncanny ability to give audiences just what they want, was blessed with an embarrassment of riches here.

    For me, Ian Roe, full of youthful exuberance and charm, was the best of the bunch as Buttons. He didn't have to build a rapport with the kids in the kids in the audience. It was forged from the moment he opened his mouth.

    Emily Wood was hugely likeable as Cinderella and she combined deft acting skills with a singing voice which had to be heard to be believed.

    Deborah McCormack certainly lived up to her name as Prince Charming and you found yourself willing her to get together with Cinders, while knowing full well that true love would triumph in the end.

    The Ugly Sisters were more funny than nasty and Gareth Jones and Aidan Kielty had a ball with the roles of Pollyphelia and Pollyester respectively. To give you an idea of just how bad the jokes were here is an example of just how cringeworthy they were: "What do the donkeys on Blackpool beach get for dinner?" "Half an hour!" Boom, Boom.

    What always impresses me about this company is the high standard of the dancing and they, clad in elegant black leotards, certainly did justice to the sultry classic Steam Heat. Everyone inside Urmston Sports Centre was mesmerised.

    Rick Bowen

    Reproduced from The Noda Magazine

    With just over six weeks to rehearse once again this society brought us a bright and cheerful pantomime but it [w]has to be said this was not the best of Cinderella scripts. There was a good song selection which helped keep the whole production on the move. The stage was used to full effect by the cast. Pantomime is very much an ensemble piece.

    John Walker (Baron Wastes) and Myra Pennington (Baroness Wastes) provided nicely contrasted comedy to Gareth Jones and Aidan Kielty bumbling around as the Ugly Sisters. Ian Roe was effective as Buttons whose love for Cinderella, played with sincerity by Emily Wood, comes to no avail.

    Deborah McCormack and Vicki Williams in the britched parts of Prince Charming and Dandini both gave committed performances.

    There were fine contributions from the dancers, the costumes were bright and the sets simple, all of which helped make this seasonal offering enjoyable.

    John Flay