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Picture
REVIEW
​Leigh Operatic & Dramatic Society present
Rodgers & Hammerstein's
CINDERELLA
Palace Theatre, Westcliff
6th - 9th November 2019
We're getting ever closer to December and it's that time of year where shopkeepers start playing Christmas songs, decorations are being put up in the town centres and card shops have Christmas cards in abundance. So, with all this in mind, LODS have perfectly timed their production of one of the nation's favourite fairytales, Cinderella.  However, this is not a pantomime, I repeat, not a pantomime. 

This version is Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella.  Originally written by them for tv in 1957 with Julie Andrews in the starring role and then adapted for Broadway, it was later revamped for a 1996 film adaption starring Brandy, Whitney Houston and Whoopi Goldberg.  The musical has been through a few transformations over the years but still retains the Rodgers and Hammerstein stamp.  They are, after all, the masters of a hit musical with The Sound of Music, South Pacific and The King & I, amongst a few their classics.

One thing that hasn't really changed throughout the years is the storyline and all its familiar characters.  However, some of the names here may not be ones you're used to.  Cinderella's stepmother and her two stepsisters, Grace and Joy, are here providing some good old fashioned comedy slapstick moments with Julie-Dawn Newman, Kathy Ward and Courtney Emery bouncing, quite literally, off of each other with their lascivious, larger than life characterisations.  Jason Weir eeks out every bit of comedy campness for his role as the Prince's exhaustingly OTT courtier, Lionel.

Sasha Monique plays the Fairy Godmother looking more like a glammed up Statue of Liberty than the quintessentially caped, sweet old lady we are used to from Disney's Cinderella.  She gives her Fairy Godmother a nice bit of no nonsense sass. The King and Queen, played by Barry Jones and Jo Whitnell, pop up to provide typical parenting problems for their son, Prince Charming, or rather in this show, Prince Christopher, played by Declan Wright.  Declan provides the most gorgeous vocals to every number he gets to sing in this production and is well matched playing opposite Reanne Nash as Cinderella.

Reanne doesn't just play Cinderella, she is Cinderella, adopting every nuance of every Cinderella I've ever seen - facial expressions, hand movements, vocally - she was born to play the part.  She too has lovely vocals and every song she sings is a delight. Kids and adults alike will love her.  Reanne and Declan have some beautiful duets and their harmonies really soar.   

I loved the score and MD, Rachael Plunkett, has done a marvellous job in achieving a great sound from the whole company.  This has been aided by the Society's collaboration with The Show Choir who provide a powerhouse of harmonic vocals from the Boxes either side of the stage. 

Rosie Munns' choreography is quite exquisitely clever in its subtlety and effectiveness during numbers with the ensemble working well together to bring each scene to life.  Costumes all look wonderful and must have been a mammoth task to make for this show.  Cinderella's gown is every girl's Disney dream frock!

Helen Sharpe has done a nice job in the direction of this show, however, I do have to question the introduction of a Playstation, mobile phone and mentions of pop-stars, Beyonce and Justin Bieber into the narrative. Also, a couple of other fourth wall moments that I won't spoil but seemed rather random.  For me, it took away the magical spontaneity of the show and just seemed....well.... a bit weird. That said, it certainly doesn't take away the enjoyment of the production and all it has to offer with the first night audience up on their feet to applaud the cast at bows.

We may not be quite into the Christmas pantomime territory just yet, but LODS' production of Cinderella will certainly help to get you in the mood!



Review:  Kim Tobin

‘Cinderella’ opens on Wednesday 6th November and runs until Saturday 9th November, with evening performances (Wednesday - Saturday) at 7:30PM and matinees (Thursday & Saturday) 2:30PM. 
​
Tickets are available from:
WWW.SOUTHENDTHEATRES.COM
or you can phone the Box Office on:
01702 351135
You can follow LODS on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram:
@LEIGHODS
INTERVIEW BELOW WITH REANNE NASH AND DECLAN WRIGHT - CINDERELLA AND PRINCE CHRISTOPHER

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