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Macclesfield Community News

Cinderella (1989)

"Full Houses was their reward" by Jean Ellis

A full house every night was the Macclesfield Majestic Theatre Group's reward for presenting yet another stage spectacular, the pantomime "Cinderella" for one week last month.

Produced by Shirley Davies with musical direction by Kath Ibbotson. and choreography by Gillian Hulme, the production was a lavish one. Bob Payne's team constructed splendid sets for eleven scene changes, and, aided by sound and light crew - Tony Hewitt, Reg Baxter, Edward Dixon and Barnaby Payne - effected some breathtaking special effects, as when Cinderella's coach, pulled by a real pony, appeared at a wave of Fairy Godmother's (Pauline Baxendale's) wand.

Jean Clarke was a beautiful Cinderella, Margo Bluck a Prince Charming in the best thigh slapping traditions. Dandini, the Prince's valet, was played by Denise Holian and Peter Bretherton was Baron Hardup. Robert Haslam, as Buttons led the audience's children in some deafening participation and the production's children in polished song and dance routines like "Bare Necessities".

Dancers and singers were a joy to watch and listen to. Memorable wer ethe senior dancers and chorus in the ball scene, junior dancers as wood nymphs in the glade where Cinderella and the Prince have their tryst and Kevin Clarke's Michael Jackson dancing "Bad".

Most productions of Cinderella have two main comic characters in the persons of the Ugly Sisters. This version, written by Ron Hall, had four - the Ugly Sisters and their Wolf Cubs.

David McGuiness and Carol Dabbs - Rosita and Lolita the Ugly Sisters - tried and tested repeatedly on the Majestic stage are a comic duo which never fails. The sight of them just standing together, with more than a foot between their heights if funny, but add uninhibited slapstick double entendres and clowning, and the pair are hilarious.

Sheila Gaskell last appeared at the Majestic in the romantic lead in "South Pacific". The part of Alfie, the bossy Wolf Cub sister in Cinderella was as far removed from Nellie Forbush, but Sheila's comic ability was more than equal to the role.

The butt of her business was Julian, a learner Wolf Cub, clumsy, inept and delightfully portrayed by Doreen Milne. Their song and dance routine with the rest of the Cub pack "We're happy when we're hiking" brought the house down.