Review: Cinderella, Deben Players

The Deben Players have brought lots of pantomime fun to the stage at the Seckford Theatre. Woodbridge this Christmas with their production of Cinderella.

Written and directed by the talented Andy Kimber, this show features many original musical numbers and is full of fun and frolics from the start.

Everyone is familiar with the story of Cinderella, bullied by her elder stepsisters and made to cook and clean, it looks like there is no hope of poor Cinders ever going to the Grand Ball, let alone meeting her prince. That is…until her Fairy God Mother steps in with a little fairy magic!

One of the major scenes in Cinderella is the transformation of Cinders from rags to riches, and the Deben Players have a unique and very innovative way of achieving this with the clever use of lighting, which really works well.

The cast is made up of some very talented amateur actors, with a stand out performance from Lizze Hawes who is perfectly cast as Cinderella. Hawes plays a believable, somewhat innocent Cinderella brilliantly.

With jokes a plenty, ugly sisters, henchmen, a handsome prince and a wicked stepmother this production has all the ingredients for the perfect pantomime. With a strong cast, great musical numbers and wonderful comic timing this show is set to rival some of the professional productions in the area.

It was an especially nice touch to see all of the cast were waiting in the foyer of the theatre to meet the audience after the show… What little girl doesn’t want to get to meet Cinderella?

Wendy Cook, Ipswich24
Cinderella is at the Seckford Theatre until Wednesday 1st January, 2014