Cinderella
Written by Norman Robbins
Directed and Adapted by Stephen Bolton
Where and When
Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre
4-13 Dec 2003
Cast
| Cinderella |
Angharad James |
| Prince Charming |
Kate Leung |
| Buttons |
Pedro Reichert |
| Baron Hardupp |
Peter Lowe |
| Baroness Hardupp |
Jackie Huke |
| Charlene |
Lucas Cox |
| Marlene |
Brian Schwarze |
| Mr Upnorth |
Christine Baldwin |
| Mr Downunder |
Wendy Herbert |
| Short Tempered And Rude Fairy |
Judi Bolton |
| Delicate Blossom Fairy |
Priscilla Jones |
| Dandini |
Kate Baldwin |
| Catherine Pacific |
Annie Mueller |
| Footmen |
Paris Herbert-Taylor & Rosi Jelfs |
| Ken |
Adam Balcombe |
| Kenneth |
Stephen Bolton |
Production Team
| Director |
Stephen Bolton |
| Producer |
Jackie Huke |
| Associate Producer |
Judi Bolton |
| Musical Director |
Gethyn Clothier |
| Choreographer |
Mandy Petty |
| Set Designer |
Peter Espina |
| Costume Designers |
Elaine Wade & Carol Bloomfield |
| Lighting Designer |
Colin Wolstencroft |
| Stage Manager |
Adrian Davis |
| Make-Up Designer |
Margaret Wright |
Reviews
South China Morning Post
Sunday December 7 2003
The Hong Kong Players' latest production opened on Thursday at the Shouson Theatre in Wan Chai. The cast and production team have clearly worked hard to make this a vibrant performance with mass appeal, and it has paid off. The result is a pantomime with larger-than-life characters, cringe-inducing puns, funny dialogue, familiar songs, audience participation and a happy ending.
The company doesn't have the budget to provide lavish scenery and costumes, but that's quickly forgotten thanks to an energetic cast who look as if they're thoroughly enjoying themselves.
All the usual favourites are here. There's the shrill and vile stepmother, the bumbling, henpecked father, two fairy godmothers, a faithful Buttons and a sweet Cinderella, all supported by a young, enthusiastic chorus.
The stars of the show are the cross-dressing Ugly Sisters (Lucas Cox and Brian Schwarze) whose fabulously grotesque outfits become more tasteless with every change. They kept the audience laughing through the two-hour show with a string of one-liners and none-too-subtle innuendoes delivered with Aussie accents and faultless timing. The performance was threaded with local and topical asides that resonated well.
Buttons, heartwarmingly played by Pedro Reichert, was an instant hit, especially with the younger audience members, and the fairy godmothers - one a slow-learning trainee and the other her impatient coach - were well cast in their small but snappy roles.
The second act seemed a little stretched, but the cast kept up the pace to the end.
Liana Cafolla
Acknowledgements
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Stauntons Group
Sante Fe Relocation Services
RTHK
PARKnSHOP
Jo Dehaney
Worldwide Flight Services
Adam Balcombe
Hong Kong Oxygen & Acetylene Co., Ltd.
Sandy Poon
Hawk Rent a Car
Joyce Li
Food by Fone
Chan Tze Him
IPAC Securities
Billy Leung
Venue Bar
ABBA
Kindermusik by Catherine
Stewie Griffin
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