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| Cinderella cast at Northern Stage - set design by Alison Ashton + Lighting Design by John Rainsforth |
Whatever your age, if you want to be swept away into a very fun fairytale, then this is definitely the production for you! Of course, you are familiar with the story of Cinderella, but writers Sally Cookson, Adam Peck and the Original Company breathe new exuberance into this well-known tale. Drawing mainly from The Grimm brothers’ version, the story is without a fairy Godmother, using instead birds to aid Ella in her plight. Our heroine is her own person, using her humour and love of nature to make her way in life. Think less ‘glass slipper’ and more ‘sparkly Doc Martins’. Directors Katy Weir and Jake Smith brought an enchanting forest-like world that draws you into its sweet and funny world. The sound of birdsong and understated warm lighting gave a pleasant rustic feel. The set had simple wooden sculptures that looked like a dreamy tree house playground. I could have happily just sat on the set all day if it was allowed.
Katie Tranter, Evlyne Oyedokun + Charlie Venables
But don’t let the serene setting fool you. This show is an
all singing, all dancing, side-splitting cacophony of delights. I strongly
advise you to get there early to enjoy the pre-show antics as various ‘birds’
cause havoc in the auditorium. Audience participation is vital as seats are
climbed over and light projectiles thrown. The Music (composed by Ziad Jabero)
felt like folk-pop with elements of Madness and it drives the story on. Our
Prince (Charlie Venables), a charmingly awkward bird watcher, meets Ella
(Evlyne Oyedokun) when she shows him how to call her bird friends. Ella has a step
sister (Peace Oseyenum) and step brother (David Fallon) who are equally
hilarious in different ways. The Queen (Katie Tranter) is a caring, yet
completely bizarre and magnificent; her mere appearance brought a smile. As to
Ella’s stepmother (Zoe Lambert), she was a triumphantly mad addition to the
already glittering cast. Footman (Aron de Casmaker) used so much physical
comedy, and was such a crowd favourite, that I had to suppress a cheer at the
sight of him. Apart from Ella and Prince, everyone in the cast doubled as a
different ‘bird’, taking on their mannerisms to great comedic effect. The way
the show ended (I will not spoil it for you) was the most fun I’ve had in a
theatre - ever. It’s just a fantastically fun show from before its start, to its
finish.
Peace Oseyenum as Sister and Zoe Lambert as Mother
A wonderfully wild production in more ways than one, Cinderella
a Fairytale is showing at Northern Stage, runs until
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