Originally published by L.S. Media. December 9th 2011.
L.S. Media Rating *****
Cast: Rebecca Bainbridge, Jonny Bower, Carla Freeman, Robert Gilbert, Adam Keast, Chris Lindon, Kate Marlais, Griffen Stevens, Francis Tucker, Sarah Vezmar.
Dust off the tuxedo, air the sparkly gown and make sure that over the festive period you get down to the Playhouse Theatre and take in the spirit of the Everyman Theatre’s traditional and outrageously funny Rock and Roll Panto, Cinderella, Mop! In the Name of Love.
It may be in a different venue, the much loved Everyman getting it’s huge makeover this year and unavailable to host the show, but the play has tried on the glass slipper in another venue and unlike the ugly sisters’ feet, fits in the these shoes perfectly.
From the moment the audience stepped through the curtain that separates the foyer from the stage area; the play felt at home and with such a strong cast playing all the parts and it has to be said brilliantly playing all the music as well, the crowd were enjoying every minute. Every favourite Panto joke, the wonderfully placed community singing and every line delivered with a style that belies some critics who dismiss the Panto as being an end of season get together. It’s hard work for the writers, the crew and the actors to do something as beautifully silly and publicly endearing as this but they do it with grace and a bucket-load of humour, as well as some fire hydrants and squirty water siphons just to get the point across.
To see this play is to witness the fine double act of Adam Keast and Francis Tucker, stalwarts of the show both in their finery as the ugly sisters. Writer Sarah A. Nixon had long harboured an ambition to see Adam in a frock and it has to be said they suited them brilliantly. Much must also be said of the charming Sarah Vezmar as Cinderella. This is the second Panto she has played the leading lady and it’s a credit to her that she continues to give off such a commanding presence for someone so young.
Perhaps the real star of the show is the music; delivered with expert ease, the house band played such great songs as Alice Cooper’s School’s Out and Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer. Each song greeted and sang with good spirits and in a lot of cases heartfelt and unapologetic as is right.
There is no doubt that the much loved festive show took on a new direction by being on the Playhouse stage. Accomplished writers Sarah A. Nixon and Mark Chatterton did a tremendous job, with amazing help from the team behind the Everyman/Playhouse Theatres, transferring the play from its traditional home and making it even more accessible to the public. Not just in the number of people that will be able to see this very funny production; but by making it feel even closer, tight knit and in full view of the very people that come along time and time again to see one of the much loved cornerstones of Liverpool life.
A play for everyone, for every child and every child within us all! Full marks to the Playhouse and all involved in the making of this special night and for keeping the Rock and Roll Panto alive!
Ian D. Hall