Home and Away stars coming to the UK

[xGlowingAngelx]

Any cast of Neighbours coming to the UK?

well Alan (Fletcher is it?) who plays Karl will be because he's doing the Soapstar Superstar.

[Taz]

Review of Irene's Panto. From Hastings Observer. Sounds good. Pity its so far away.

Fun-packed class panto with a contemporary feel

Review: Cinderella at the White Rock Theatre until December 31

SURELY if you have seen one pantomime you have seen them all, suggests Richard Morris.

Fairy godmothers, men in drag a plenty, a prince charming and a happy-ever-after ending. Cinderella at the White Rock Theatre, however, proved to be a refreshing change from the normal collection of rehashed jokes stolen straight from last year's Christmas crackers and over-the-top acting.

Sophie McDonnell, who played the downtrodden Cinderella, was superb in the lead role.

Her background in children's television has clearly helped her perfect her acting style and her controlled, confident and composed portrayal of the beautiful Cinderella helped keep up the pace while at the same time captivating the large majority of the young audience.

Her excellent use of facial expression and ample singing voice was well matched to the more powerful tones of prince charming, played by Paul Callen.

In true slap-my-thigh style the prince was played with gusto and enthusiasm.

Together with his housekeeper belle Cinders, Charming serenaded the audience through a variety of modern pop songs and a number of tunes adapted from other musicals, a good example being Elton John's classic Can You Feel The Love Tonight from Disney's The Lion King.

Panto being panto the audience were never deterred from joining in where they knew the words and together with a generous sprinkling of "He's behind you" and "Oh no he didn't" it ensured an infectious family atmosphere.

Former Gladiator Hunter showed there was more than one string to his bow with a fine performance as Charming's sidekick Dandini.

The trained actor, real name James Crossley, displayed a range of acting ability many in the audience could have been forgiven for assuming he might not possess.

Considering his muscle bound background on the hit ITV show he showed genuine style and emerged as one of the shining lights.

Richard Cawley and Richard Westcott were indulgently vile in their roles as the ugly sisters.

If their larger than life personas were not enough to make sure they stood out from the crowd, the pair were adorned with a wonderful variety of ghastly gowns and flamboyant frocks.

Cawley especially went down a storm with the younger members of the crowd taking frantic delight in showering his character with boos and hisses.

The unsung heroes of the performance were the group of extremely talents and obviously well drilled dancers under the choreography of Ruth Woodier.

Although the story was based around the plight of Cinderella the undisputed star of the show was the hapless Buttons, played by Jamie Alexander Wilson.

From his first appearance on stage he had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand.

His energetic and hilarious performance had the audience in stitches and, where at times other characters left the audience not knowing when to join in, Buttons left the crowd in no such quandary – encouraging shouts and screams each time he came on stage.

His conversational and personal style of performance delighted the audience, making everyone – young and old - feel part of proceedings.

Frank Williams, of Dad's Army fame, was well received as the bumbling Baron Hardup and his parcel scene with Buttons delivered as many laughs as any other.

Probably the best known actor, Home and Away's Lynne McGranger clearly enjoyed the freedom of playing the fairy godmother and this came across in her exuberant performance although a joke at the expense of the England cricket team was perhaps a little too close to the bone.

All in all Cinderella was a fun-packed two and-a-half hours of classic pantomime but wrapped in such a way the much performed tale seemed both fresh and

contemporary.

15 December 2006

[MaRiTa1986]

Ric is going to be in Soapstar Superstar (UK)

I read about that in 2day's TV mag. I can't wait to see it! Mark (ric) is sooooo fit!!

[Bay_Mad]

Any cast of Neighbours coming to the UK?

well Alan (Fletcher is it?) who plays Karl will be because he's doing the Soapstar Superstar.

I know Alan Fletcher hangs round in Sheffield quite a lot, and does various small gigs in hos band around the UK.

Oh..and only one more day till I see Ray in pantomine!!!!