Bigging it up in Basingstoke

Cinderella at The Anvil, Basingstoke until January 2. Review by DEREK ANSELL

It looks as though the traditional British panto has been given a facelift. Or should I say its been turbo charged?

From the opening of this production of Cinderella, there was a sense of big, bigger, biggest, loud, louder, loudest with a riot of more colourful costumes and scenery.

Even the extension of the stage out to the wings each side gave the illusion of inflation. Well, there’s a lot of it about.

Fairy Godmother Debbie McGee was there at the opening prologue, bright, bubbly and very colourful. She was soon chatting to Buttons, Chris Pizzey, who was as slick and smooth as any Buttons should be and soon introducing Rachel Grundy as Cinderella.

With Joseph Hewlett as Prince Charming they made an attractive, well-matched couple.

Nic Gibney and Duncan Burt were two of the best Ugly Sisters and they played their parts up to the hilt. Bitter, vitriolic, they worked well together.

Music, colourful scenery and attractive costumes, dry ice and loud voices made it all very spectacular. I wonder though, where were the old routines and constant interaction with the audience? That seemed to have been erased from the show.

Even the ghost scene where a little voice behind us shouted ‘it’s behind you’, unaware that they weren’t doing it that way anymore. No sad songs from Cinderella either or Buttons’ comedy routines like they used to do.

This, though, was panto and everyone was having fun.

Ugly sister Harmony complained that she hadn’t met a single prince all week. “And not even a married one,” she continued, irritated.

One of the best moments in the show came after the Prince and Cinderella were discovered gazing into each other’s eyes. “Now who’s going to marry me?” Buttons asked Fairy Godmother.

A loud voice from the stalls called out: “I’ll marry you Buttons.” You could see Debbie McGee and Chris Pizzey were shaken and almost dried up. Pizzey recovered quickly though and shouted back: “Right, I’ll take whatever I can get.”

OK, so it wasn’t in the script or rehearsed, but it was very funny. And the two actors have been around long enough to know how to respond.

Was it a good show overall? Oh yes it was!

Did it have a lively sing song with the audience and three little girls who came up on stage? Oh yes, it did!

Was there a special, extended curtain call with music and everybody on stage? Oh yes there was!