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Emerald Blue Productions
Cock And Bull Story
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Cinderella
Dick McWhittington
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Thom Dibdin, The Stage. A bright local script with plenty for both schools and adult audiences marks out Liam Rudden’s new production for the Brunton. Darren Scott, Edinburgh Evening NewsBrunton Theatre THANK goodness for the panto season, an excuse if ever there was one needed to have a really good time.And that's exactly what Cinderella encourages, with no end of people wanting to join in the fun. Traditional pantomime values are clearly top of the agenda for the creative team behind last year's Dick McWhittington and they haven't failed to deliver. This version sees the panto classic become extremely local, setting the action in Musselburgh and, well, anywhere on the 26 bus route really. It's also truly a modern-day fairytale with Cinderella snapping Prince Charming on her camera phone. Abstract humour pops up throughout, and there are a good number of double entendre jokes for adults that will soar above the children's heads. For example, the Prince's reasoning of why the women of Musselburgh would be interested in attending his ball and a slightly risqué section involving the Ugly Sisters and a beauty chamber, which sees Tilda (Graham Crammond) setting to work on Betty's (Chris Young) bikini line. There's a very funny and clever dream sequence that the kids lap up and moments that are so surreal they are brilliant, least of all the fact that there's a giant mouse walking around the family home (still, it's panto, not Pinter). A song from High School Musical, Breaking Free, sees the children get even more into it, if that's possible, and very quickly they are singing and clapping along. But this is just one of the many clever inclusions of contemporary pop culture references and songs, including a hilarious rendition of It's Raining Men by - who else - Betty and Tilda who, along with Buttons, played by Arron Usher, steal the show (and all the most outrageous costumes). A staple of pantomime that's vanished from many other performances is the sweetie shower. Kids (and probably the odd adult too if they're honest) will be glad to hear the tradition is alive and well at the Brunton as Mousey, the aforementioned five-foot rodent, brings a sack of chocolates on to the stage. "Mousey says children don't like sweets," Buttons says. Quick as a flash a child's voice screams "He's lying!" and almost succeeding in making Buttons corpse. Audience interaction is as plentiful - when it comes to the obligatory ghost scene, kids are reaching out of their seats yelling and pointing and, of course, shouting "it's behind you". The cast look as though they're having as much fun as the audience, camping it up as only panto allows. At one point the Fairy Godmother shrugs: "I just say the lines," but you just know she clearly loves it. Cinderella has many stand-out moments and to pick the best parts would take up far too much space, not to mention completely spoil the treat. It's all such great fun that even the stoniest-faced person wouldn't be able to stop themselves from shouting "bye!" as Buttons waves farewell. |
Arron Usher (Buttons), Julie Heatherill (Cinderella) and Adam Reeves (Prince Charming)