Wales Community Theatre Players’ Cinderella – 18 January 2025, Montgomery Theatre

Review by Claire Taranaski.

My first review of 2025 was both a welcome return to The Montgomery Theatre after its refurbishment (brought up to date but still with the Monty feeling that regular attenders of the theatre know and love) and a welcome return to the excellent family friendly pantos Wales CTP are known for, offering everything we love in a panto whilst making it there own.

The panto is Cinderella so of course that performance is key to the whole show and I couldn’t imagine a better person for the role that Hollie Riley whose internal and external beauty shone through, had lovely chemistry with all her cast mates, a beautiful singing voice and wonderful stage presence. My five year old daughter had to check with me during the show whether Hollie was the really Cinderella.

On the subject of my daughter, her favourite moments all came from Lee Phillips and Dan Schofield as Bodget and Leggett, and I have to agree. Whilst my daughter couldn’t stop talking about the hammer scene, which celebrated the likes of the Chuckle Brothers, I must praise their DIY scene in the second half, performed without words and an ohmage to the great silent movie double acts. In a show full of comedy, slap stick and one liners these two were truly stand out and could easily pull off their own two person show celebrating the history of double acts. They were also wonderful with the young ensemble, who led my daughter to ask if she could be in a panto, during their musical number “Our House”.

I have already mentioned Cinderella, but it wouldn’t be this panto without Buttons, played by Paul Burgess, who heavily reminded me of comic actor Craig Cash and whose delivery led to us most wanting him to get his happy ending. Paul was also wonderful with me and my daughter after the show, after my daughter was desperate to meet him and then got very shy and star struck for the actual photo.

We also needed Prince Charming and Toni Cook was perfect for the role having mastered the panto thigh slap and with wonderful stage presence and charming chemistry both with Cinderella and their best friend Dandini. This not only came through from any time the actors were on stage together but also their musical duets, with “From This Moment” between Cinderella and Prince Charming giving me goosebumps.

Another musical performance that gave me goosebumps was from Alison Wade as the Fairy Godmother, who gave us everything we wanted from the role before shocking us during the transformation scene at the end of Act One with an incredible singing voice that sounded like it came straight out of Elaine Paige’s mouth.

The Ugly Sisters, who my daughter had already met in town the previous week but was to scared to meet after the show, Grizelda and Gertrude played by Tom Ingall and Dave Froggatt gave us not one but two panto dames, made men not want to sit on the aisle and, on the day that the musical closed at the Crucible, had the best costumes of the night in the finale looking like they had borrowed them from Audrey 2. Alongside Joseph Bairstow as Baron Hardup and Ann Mann as Baroness Hardup, the four characters shared all the best one liners of the show and also, with the help of 3D glasses, provided the panto bench scene we all expect with an original ghostly twist.

Special mention should also be given to two characters not listed in the programme, Bob The Bunny who was on stage throughout, provided the most audience participation and was by far the cutest and most cuddly character and will make all children in the audience want their own; and at the other extreme the shortest (blink and you might miss) appearance from Prince Charming’s Butch Bodyguard in the final scene, who definitely knew how to strut his stuff.

I have already mentioned the young ensemble but must also praise the adult ensemble and the choreography of Claire Harriott for the ballroom scene, which was performed with perfection (keep an eye on the ensemble on the left hand side of the stage during Cinderella and Prince Charming’s waltz). I will also take this moment to praise director Ashley Booker, who got the most out of a large talented cast and ensemble and musical director Ray Gallagher, who along with directing the music became part of the comedy alongside the cast themselves, especially his ribbing from the Ugly Sisters.

Wales CTP’s Cinderella is a great start to the year and should not be missed by panto fans and families alike wishing to escape the January blues, whilst making us excited for their bringing another fairy tale to life later in the year as they bring Shrek The Musical to The Montgomery in July.