(The Wedding scene. Pic by Val Adamson)
Acclaimed
multi award-winning KickstArt, has done it again - produced a hugely
entertaining pantomime which respects the tradition but brings it up to date.
(Review by Caroline Smart)
The
acclaimed multi award-winning Durban theatre company, KickstArt, has done it
again - produced a hugely entertaining pantomime with the age-old story of Cinderella, skilfully combining all the
traditional panto nonsense, knock-about comedy and audience participation with
songs of today, cracks at current political and social issues – all performed
by an excellent cast.
Director
Steven Stead was bitten by the panto bug as a child when he saw a production at
the Playhouse directed by the late John Moss and since he and designer Greg
King joined up with KickstArt, he has pursued his dream to offer a pantomime
each year since 2004. This is the perfect way to introduce children to theatre
and open their eyes and minds to the magic of performances, sets, costumes,
lighting, sound and special effects.
A KickstArt
production invariably represents excellence in every aspect from well-chosen
talented cast members, good choreography to the high quality of costume/set
design and superb lighting and sound.
Cinderella, currently running at the Elizabeth Sneddon
Theatre is no different.
(Roshanda Lewis as Cinderella and Mthokozisi
Zulu as Buttons. Pic by Val Adamson)
Stead’s
script offers some delightfully poignant scenes among the comedy and mayhem. King’s
sets are grand and expansive with a medieval look and his use of puppetry is a
great asset to the show. Choreography is by Janine Bennewith with lighting
design by Tina le Roux and sound design by Ross van Wyk. Musical director is
Evan Roberts with Jason Bird as Assistant Musical Director. The costumiรจre is Shanthi Naidoo.
We all
know that times are tough financially so a large cast is impractical. However,
the cast of 11 carry the show with energy and passion and the opening night
audience loved every minute!
Playing
the leading role is Roshanda Lewis who makes an appealing and sincere
Cinderella. The role of Prince Florian is taken by Nathan Kruger who gave a
consistently strong performance. Lyle Buxton gave his usual engaging energy as
Dandini, the Prince’s valet, and the velvet-voiced Anne Marie Clulow was a
delight as the ditsy and forgetful Fairy Godmother.
(Bryan Hiles as Annie, Lyle Buxton as
Dandini & Darren King as Cattie. Pic by Val Adamson)
As was
to be expected, Darren King and Bryan Hiles generated most of the laughs as
Cinderella’s horrendous stepsisters - Catalepsia “Cattie” Bankrupt (King) and
Anaesthesia “Annie” Bankrupt (Hiles) who live in Bankruptcy Court. In memorably
outrageous costumes, they played the quarrelsome duo with gusto which offered
loads of fun to the youngsters in the audience.
The actor
I enjoyed most was Mthokozisi Zulu who played the much put-upon Buttons. I have
watched this actor’s growth with interest since he first moved into
professional theatre and I was captivated by his performance.
Dancers
also playing villagers, courtiers and fairies are Kirsty Ndawu, Katherine
Anderson, Sanele Mzinyane and Tshediso Kabulu. Kabulu always impresses me and
he is no different in this production with his highly focused dancing.
Along
with standard panto numbers such as Let’s
Pretend, One Finger, One Thumb …
and Don't Be Anything Less Than
Everything You Can Be, expect to hear numbers like The Shark Song, It’s Raining Men and My Guy.
Cinderella runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on
UKZN campus until January 6, 2019.
Booking
is open through Computicket outlets; telephonic bookings on 0861 915 8000, and
online bookings at www.computicket.com. For schools’ performances, charity
fundraisers or block bookings of 50 or more, contact KickstArt Theatre via
email: kickstart@letni.co.za - Caroline Smart
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