Cinderella
Julian
Clary, Sam Hudson, Laura Evans, Aiden O'Neill, Nataylia Roni, Philip Herbert,
Paul Dallison, Andrew Bradley, Ian Gledhill
Director: Carole Todd
Choreographer: Stillie Dee
Liverpool Empire Theatre
20th December, 2005
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CINDERELLA
"The Lavish Family Pantomime" is how it is billed and, beyond all expectations, this show certainly lives up to its hype. Cinderella at the Empire is a must see production by anybody's standards. With Julian Clary at his camp, innuendo spouting best, everything about this production is sheer professionalism, with costumes, sets and dancing to die for.
Of course the world knows the story; young girl can't go to the ball
because of Ugly Sisters; Fairy Godmother makes it happen; Cinders meets
Handsome Prince but has to leave at midnight, leaving her crystal slipper
behind etc. etc.
With this cast, however, all of this
happens and more. With jokes close enough to the knuckle to be limp
wrist height, not only did the children enjoy themselves, so did the
adults, as Clary rolled one camp aspersion into another, without ever
over-stepping the mark.
The sets are glorious, only outdone
by Julian's costumes, of which there were too many to count, and only
being out-powered by the dramatic transformation of Cinderella into
Princess Starlight. This includes an ultra-impressive glass coach and
two live ponies, overlaid with a heart-stopping laser display worthy
of a rock concert.
Sam Hudson (Born & Bred,
Holby City) is suitably underplayed as Prince Charming, given
that the majority of his scenes were alongside Clary. However, his singing
voice is worthy of note, as is that of Laura Evans (Basil Brush Show,
Dreams Of Gold) as Cinderella, who reprises her acclaimed role
from her stint in Bristol of twelve months ago.
Aiden O'Neill (Stones In His Pockets,
Jesus Christ Superstar) is the eponymous Buttons, who feels love
and fails to express it quickly enough to capture Cinders' affections
in time, though nonetheless keeps cheer in heart and the laughs and
puns a- rolling.
Andrew Bradley and Paul Dallison as
the Ugly Sisters, Verucca and Hernia, play their parts with suitable
venom and spite to earn the all catcalls of a demented animal sanctuary,
whereas Nataylia Roni as The Fairy Godmother has a voice that drips
seduction.
But it's left to Julian Clary as Dandini,
the Prince's bodyguard replete with half-naked man-servants to ferry
him about the stage, who steals the show and all of the best lines.
Dandini: Who are you?
Godmother: I'm Queen of the Fairies.
Dandini: Well, I'm in a similar line
of work myself. Can I help you?
Without Julian Clary this show would
be a success. With him, it's exceptional.
9/10
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break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.