East Coker's Cinderella and the Other Fella

A ROCKERFELLA PANTO PRODUCTION

The start of this season’s pantomime competition takes me to East Coker where their players are presenting ‘Cinderella and the Other Fella’

With the village hall festively decorated and many audience members wearing Christmas jumpers this was certainly going to be the season to be panto jolly!

Written and directed by Jon Margetts this was a take on the traditional Cinderella that we all are familiar with. For example, the glass slipper was replaced by an Adidas/Nike trainer so you can imagine where I am coming from. Some very comical visual moments indeed.

With very funny one-liners and a few innuendos, that fortunately went over the heads of the younger audience members, this show kept the audience chuckling from beginning to end. Maybe by introducing an ‘it’s behind you’ scene and an ‘audience participation song’, especially for the younger ones, would have been the cherry on the cake.

All sets were pleasing but in particular Pantopia Town square looked amazing. Well done Sarah.

I have never watched an East Coker production before but I must say what talent you have especially from your junior members. This was very well cast and each character suited their part extremely well.

Costumes were worn well and lines delivered assuringly most of the time. With a few prompts here and there these were handled in a comical fashion.

While it is the adjudicators job to summarize each individual character I really do have to mention the talents of Salmonella and Malaria Tremaine. Your timings and facial expressions were exceptional girls. You stole the show and how the audience loved to hate you.

This was a pantomime with a difference but it was clear everyone, including myself, enjoyed themselves immensely.

Thank you so much for inviting me.

Nigel Ford

Moderator