Cinderella - The nations favourite Panto (Part.I)

A Villain must be a thing of power, handled with delicacy and grace. {Agnes Repplier}

There are a stock of familiar and ever popular stories that you see each year doing the rounds across the UK's theatres.  Whether it be Jack and his Beanstalk, Snow White and her seven dwarves or Dick and his Whittington - they are stories that we all know and love.  None more so than Cinderella, followed closely by Aladdin.  This year Cinders yet again tops the list with 22 professional productions nationwide.  

But what is it about Cinders, that prompts such excitement and expectation from audiences?  It can't just be the hope of seeing ponies at the end of act one, or the misguided belief, that like the Disney cartoon, we'll have talking mice.  To me, it's the Panto that most captures the magic of the transformation scene; all pantos have a rags to riches theme present at their root, but in Cinderella, it goes much deeper, is more evident and specifically in Cinderella's characterisation, doesn't make lights the situation.

In Aladdin, Dick and Jack for example, the title characters use their financial limitations as a source of banter, slapstick and of course motivation.  For Cinders, the situation she finds herself in isn't exactly pleasant.  A virtual slave to her bullying sisters with, as it would appear, no way out.  The fact that Cinders can remain so 'nice' endears us to her even more.

At least she has her best friend Buttons.  Present in pantomimes for centuries, under different guises, the closest we get in the Disney version is the personification of the mice, Jaq and Gus.  Here too is another reason why we love Cinderella... The unrequited love of a fool.  Again in other pantos there is seldom a love interest for the comic.  Here, Buttons is truly, madly, deeply... Head over heels in love with his best friend.  And as we already know, things don't necessarily go his way.  The presence of an amusing underdog, is irresistible to us! As are the sharp, acidic barbs of two men in garish make-up and outrageous frocks.

The Ugly Sisters!  Surely the most popular of the villains and one of the first images that come to mind when thinking about pantomime.  They are synonymous with the Dame, the custard pie and a cheeky thigh slap.

The uglies, although possibly the cruelest, are again loved by so many because of the tradition they carry with them.  Many double acts have specialised in this evil comic turn.  In recent times there is no better example of this than Peter Robbins and Nigel Ellacott.  They were my favourites, until the sad passing of Peter back in 2009.  Their wit, flamboyant costumes and evident chemistry were a priceless asset to any production they graced.  Nigel remains prevalent within the industry; a go to guy for all things Panto, with a great wealth of knowledge and subsequent respect in and out of Panto circles.  I've not had the opportunity yet, but he's one of the people I'd like to sit and share a couple of bottles of wine with, over a few stories.  

Coincidentally, Nigel is also the figure head of "It's-behind-you.com" a fantastic resource for anyone interested in pantomime, both current and historically.  Do take a look at the site.. Once you've finished here. 

Back to the Uglies (before they make a scene) and why we love to hate them.  Everyone loves to see the changing costumes of the dame and with the sisters you get double the excitement.  How will the costumes compliment or contrast the other, what themes will be present and who will out do their sister?!  Yes, ok, they're nasty to our Cinders, Buttons and the audience... But we love a baddie.  How many times have you chuckled along to one of Simon Cowell's barbs aimed at a misguided hopeful or sat waiting for everyone to stop being so nice and let Craig Revel Harwood have his say?

To appreciate good, you need evil... And although the Uglies can never take it too far,  we need their acid tongues, sarcastic humour and spiteful comments, to set the balance.  Love them or hate them, they are here to stay!

I'm a firm believer blog posts shouldn't be too long, so for now, I'll say farewell, but do come back and read Part II soon, where we'll take a look at the good fairy, our royalty and our "Hardup" Baron.

Jx