Review

Yeadon Charities Association

Yeadon Town Hall

This must surely be one of the most hi-tech, visually stunning pantos we have seen at Yeadon.

The special effects in a glittering production are jaw dropping. Coach and horse are programmed on to a huge back cloth looking so delicate and pretty. Wonderful effects of sparkling lighting and glitter are projected throughout the auditorium. The hall is looking great in its new coat of paint. Our societies are so lucky to have the town hall for their shows.

Yeadon Charities are celebrating 75 years of pantomime this year. President Peter Long, whose family has been associated with Yeadon panto for four generations going back to the ‘Peeps’ (People’s Hall in King Street), is a relative of Little Joe Long who I remember being taken to see. He was one of the finest comedians to come from Yeadon.

Peter has also appeared in the pantomime and until this year wrote the scripts, together with Peter Rawnsley. A new set-up brings together a new concept for what was traditional pantomime. Some things work, others are debatable.

Of all pantomines Cinderella, and maybe Sleeping Beauty, need certain style and dignity and I particularly didn’t appreciate what could have been a wonderful ballroom scene getting lost in disco dancing. It was distracting to the Cinderella theme of a clock striking and a lost slipper.

However, experience shone through and last year’s director Caroline Darnbrooks’ expertise is shown to advantage in the ravishing look of the pantomime and sets. There is a new musical director in young Jamie Hudson and he does a brilliant job. Trevor Vincent has done the musical arrangement and also plays in the band, which was much too loud on the first night.

Choices musically are mostly aimed at a young generation, which is as it should be, but please could the young production team remember that lots of grandmas and grandads love to bring their grandchildren to the pantomime – very evident on Friday – and give us a few more songs like ‘The Sun has got his Hat on’ which was so enjoyable.

As principal boy, my first in 1962, it was always a highlight to have a song and dance number with the Sunbeams who had the ability – and still have – to steal the show. Hence, I just loved their super tap dance song with Buttons. The Sunbeams were in very pretty costumes.

Choreography for company and dancers was energetic and entertaining. Movement was perhaps a bit repetitive at times. An excellent group of older dancers were impressive. Christine Braid was again choreographer – her sixth year with Yeadon Panto.

The Charities have assembled a talented and mostly experienced cast. Top of the list with the audience, especially the children, was Dean Patrick as Buttons. He gave a really special performance and made the most of audience participation. Also high on the list were Gary Holmes and Adam Gregory as the Ugly Sisters. They worked well together, neither going over the top which can happen with these two parts. Their song ‘Sisters’ was a hit. Their costumes were colourful and outrageous.

Frank Mottram is in top form as Baron Hardup. A jack of all trades, he is a regular panto star. So too is Laura Judge as the devious Baroness. She exudes charm and nastiness, has some excellent costumes and sings powerfully. Tracy Ford has a wealth of experience in panto at Yeadon. A principal girl, a wonderful acrobatic cat and now has played principal boy for a number of years. She has the style of a Prince Charming. In the title role of Cinderella, Olivia May Shillito gives a quiet and sensitive performance. There are good and strongly sung duets with the Prince and she looks delightful in her ball gown and particularly in the beautiful wedding gown for the finale.

Georgina Hudson plays Dandini differently. She has a jolly stage presence but especially in the first half of the show when the Prince and Dandini change roles she would have benefited from guidance to help achieve the authority of Prince Charming. She is a fine dancer and joins in excellent numbers with the dancers.

Catherine Moglia is a splendid Fairy Godmother. She tells the story with elegance and ease and captivates the audience. Winston Robinson appears as the Chamberlain.

The finale scene looked wonderful, the idea of delicate pastel shades in the costumes was a lovely idea and quite a change. There was lots of glittering everywhere – a fine ending to this 75th panto.

It was hoped that two small ponies would be on stage this year, especially now there is a lift to hall level. But although plans were made for the few steps each side of the stage it was decided this was going to be too dangerous, probably why there were never ponies in previous Cinderellas. Next year’s panto is Red Riding Hood.

Cinderella will be performed at Yeadon Town Hall until January 25. Bookings can be made at yeadonpanto.com or by phoning 07785 278395.

Val Pennett