CINDERELLA is the most popular of pantomimes, but this season the only professional production in the south west is at Exeter’s Northcott Theatre, where Le Navet Bete (that’s Daft Turnip in translation) has taken the story and shaken it up a bit, to the delight of children, parents, grandparents and other panto lovers.
The three founders of the Devon-based company are big on comedy and physical theatre, and that is at the heart of this version of the story. Buttons gets a brother-in-arms in the person of Poppers, and the two of them get to double as the ugly sisters Bonjela and Sudocrem. Cinders is a skivvy in their house, and their mother is the dastardly Countess Wear, determined on world domination.
Then there is Prince Farming, a broadly Devonian noble with a love of sheep and a strong sense of regal responsibility. He’s got to marry one of the Countess’s dreadful daughters or she’s going to freeze the realm – for ever and ever and ever.
What are we missing? Well the fairy godmother of course. This one not only twinkles and always arrives at the right moment, but is equally at home on skis and a unicycle!
The songs are modern, and mercifully brief to avoid young audience boredom. They are also belted out with huge gusto. The fun is frantic and furious. For my taste, some of the jokes would be more comfortably accommodated at the Northcott’s “adults only” panto sessions on 12th December and 3rd January than at the very family orientated matinee. But, then, I am very old!
If Jodie Micciché (cast as the Countess) is anything like as good as her understudy Mo Crook (pictured right), who we saw as the arch baddie, she will be very, very good indeed. Mo’s was a joyfully evil performance, richly deserving all the boos and hisses.
Matt Freeman is a super fairy godmother, and obviously a huge favourite with the Northcott audience. Al Dunn and Nick Bunt, co founders of Le Navet Bete, are having the Christmas time of their lives as the knockabouts and the sisters, and Bryony Maguire is an energetic Dandini, always on hand to help prince Aaron Dart.
A team of six local 7 to 11-year olds will take it in turn to play Quackers and various other roles, and Tamsin Lynes turns in an indisposed pop icon.
Cinderella at the Northcott has spectacular sets, colourful and glittering costumes and a modern vibe that brings the story right up to date. It continues until 5th January. Leave yourself plenty of time to find the theatre on the University campus, and then to find a parking place. It’s worth it.
GP-W