CULCHETH Players performed their first pantomime in February when children of all ages witnessed the ugly sisters being outwitted by Buttons and Cinderella with the help of a Fairy Godmother.

The production saw many new members taking roles both on and off the stage, Penny Kirby as the Prince and Kerry Chapman as Cinderella gave accomplished performances. The group also had the involvement of ‘Culcheth Youth Theatre and Dance’. Their contribution, along with dancing, included the transformation scene, in which children played the part of mice, a parrot and a cat to magically change into a coach and footmen. Whether or not you saw the panto, if you wish to get involved in theatre, on or off stage you are invited to call in at Culcheth Sports Club on any Monday evening at 8pm where you will be most welcome.

Culcheth Life March 2007

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A large audience evidently enjoyed Culcheth Players excellent production of Cinderella on Saturday night.

The company’s slick handling of an original and genuinely funny script, packed with local and topical references, meant that adults and children alike were thoroughly entertained. The fourth wall was broken down as soon as the curtain was raised by a cast confident to adlib and interact with their audience, ensuring that a good time was had by everyone both on stage and off. Indeed there are numerous professional pantomimes, where half-cut has-beens cynically plod through the motions, that might learn much from this energetic production.

Considerable praise should go to director, Allan Witter. Witter’s production included many elements that amateur companies would usually be best advised to avoid: frequent set changes, numerous props, and demanding visual and sound effects. However, in this production the company proved more than competent in meeting these demands. In particular good use was made of front-of-curtain scenes to ensure that audiences were not kept waiting. Special praise should go to sound technician Dave Thurston whose timing of sound effects and musical gags would put many of his counterparts in professional repertory companies to shame.

The production was well-served by strong performances in the lead roles. Whilst Kerry Chapman proved a delightfully doleful Cinderella, Alun Lewis’s Buttons had so much energy and enthusiasm that he almost got away with being twenty years too old for the part. The dance sequences performed by Culcheth Youth Theatre and Dance were endearing and helped make this production a special unifying event for the local community.

Mike Mallett