Intrepid reporter Barbara Sherlock is offered a taste of things to come at the official Launch of The Epstein Theatre's Christmas panto, Cinderella, playing at the theatre from 6 December.
Wow, wow, wow, wow what a spectacular treat Liverpool is in for this coming pantomime season with an all-star cast in Epstein Entertainments’ debut production at this venue of the most famous of all rags to riches stories, Cinderella.
I attended the press launch for this today, and it opened with a high-kicking dance routine by extremely professional dancers choreographed by Nazene Langfield and worthy of any West End production. A host of stars were introduced on stage lead by Emmerdale’s Sammy Winward bringing a charming freshness to her Cinderella role in her first ever panto. Speaking of charming, Andrew Greater, following his successful tour as the Pharaoh in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, dazzles as the Dashing Prince and brings a big voice with amazing vocals that we were lucky enough to sample with his fantastic rendition of ‘One Night Only’.
The costumes are spectacular, with enough glitz and diamante to rival BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, that are only outshone by the sparkle on Cinderella’s fabulous shoes. The ugly sisters are beautifully bewigged and dressed and are only ugly on the inside. Liverpool’s own comedian, Crissy Rock, best known for Benidorm and no stranger to panto promises hilarity alongside theatre and Brookside (Bev McLoughlin) star Sarah White as they take on the roles of the dastardly duo. Dandini is played by panto favourite Warren Donnelly who made the role of Stan Waterman in Channel 4 series Shameless his own. Complete with golden boots, he confesses to loving his purple and gold costume and cloak. A cheeky and hilarious Lewis Palin, with a string of panto credits to his name following his winning the first series of ITV’s Kids Stars In Their Eyes with his impersonation of Donny Osmond, takes on the crucial role of Buttons. A glimpse of Samantha Palin as the Fairy Godmother is enough to dazzle the whole audience as she navigates the stage with her enormous sparkly costume.
Producer Chantelle Nolan said, ‘The countdown to Christmas has officially begun! It was great to bring all the cast together today; everyone got into the festive spirit and it has made us all that more excited to bring the show to the audiences of Liverpool.’
There is promise of bringing even more magic to the production with the introduction of an interactive 3D scene to make the action jump off the stage. The beautiful Cinderella is transformed, with some magic, from a servant girl to her two ugly stepsisters into the belle of the ball. But what will happen at the stroke of midnight?
This year’s lavish production with enchanted pumpkins, glass slippers and a sparkling fairy-tale carriage offers fun for the whole family and is a show not to be missed.
Reportage - Barbara Sherlock
on - 23/9/19
No comments:
Post a Comment