Cut
to
the
Chase
at
the
Queen's Theatre,
Hornchurch
05.12.2011
Home-grown
in Hornchurch and
all
the
tastier for
it,
the Queen's Cinderella
has
the
kids
screaming
from
the
off.
As
they
proudly
point
out,
the
show
is
staged
by
Cut to the Chase, their
resident
company
of
actor-musicians,
and
the
sumptuous
scenery
and
colourful
costumes
are
all
designed
and
made
in-house.
The
songs,
too,
are
specially
written
by
MD
Carol
Sloman.
Always
good
to
see
repertory
actors
let
it
all
hang
out
at
Christmas
time,
and
this
show
boasts
two
of
the
ugliest
sisters
you
could
imagine,
in
Simon
Jessop's
Asphyxia
and
Tom
Jude's
Euthanasia.
Not
surprisingly,
they
work
wonderfully
well
together,
and
sport
some
gorgeous
creations
[Jean
Roberts]:
faux
fur
to
start,
and
a
gourmet
spread
for
the
walk-down.
Cinders
herself
is
Queen's
star
Natasha
Moore,
delightfully
coy
with
her
"Barry"
[Niall
Costigan's
posh
Prince
Charming],
then
radiant
at
the
ball.
Stuart
Organ
makes
a
Pickwickian
Hardup,
with
his
horseless
carriage,
while
Mark
Stanford
is
a
popular
Buttons,
making
the
most
of
his
catchphrase
interplay
with
the
audience.
Bob
Carlton
wrote
the
script,
and
directs
a
stylish
take
on
the
old
tale,
with
a
lovely
prologue,
delivered
by
the
Fairy
Godmother
[Karen
Fisher-Pollard]
in
her
old
lady
guise
and
illustrated
with
clever
silhouettes.
The
settings
are
superb,
with
a
sparkly
front
cloth
and
a
story-book
village
street
vista.
The
auditorium
is
well
used,
too:
the
hunting
of
Lucy
the
fox,
with
beagles,
and
the
search
for
the
foot
the
slipper
fits,
with
reward
posters.
Act
One
ends
of
course
with
the
transformation,
a
substantial
coach
taking
flight
as
the
upstage
area
opens
up;
Act
Two
starts
with
an
ingenious
Strictly
spoof,
giving
the
eight
youngsters
a
spell
in
the
spotlight.
No
dearth
of
traditional
[old]
gags
and
routines
– even
Busy
Bee
is
pressed
into
service
for
another
generation.
But
there's
lots
that
is
fresh
and
topical
– "We're
all
in
this
together",
ker-ching
name
checks
for
the
sponsors,
even
a
plug
for
the
Dario
Fo
in
March
– theatre's
not
just
for
Christmas
!
It's
a
fast-paced,
colourful
panto
which
doesn't
take
itself
too
seriously,
and
has
the
audience
with
it
all
the
way,
"corporates,
creditors
and
critics"
included,
not
forgetting
Keith
in
the
middle
of
row
D
...
production image by Nobby Clark
this piece first appeared on The Public Reviews
production image by Nobby Clark
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