Careline Theatre's gem returns
CARELINE Theatre's annual pantomime this year was the gem of all pantos - Cinderella. The enchanting fairytale of handsome Prince Charming meeting a poor but very beautiful and shy servant girl. Against all the odds thrown at them, they fall in love and marry, to live happily ever after.
Careline Theatre has long held the reputation of an amateur theatre group with a professional touch and this production is truly worthy of that statement.
The theatre encourages people of all ages to participate in its productions, and in this show we witnessed a chorus with members as young as six up to 70 plus.
Careline is, and always will be, a very organic company. This can be seen in the professional performance of Maya Coadwell (14 years old and playing her first principle role incredibly well). Maya has been with the theatre for eight years now as a member of The Careline Academy. She donned Prince Charming’s amazing costumes and portrayed a man who would stop at nothing to find his true love.
Cinderella/Princess Crystal, played by Evie Cunningham, in her debut for Careline wowed the audiences with both her acting and singing abilities.
Evie and Maya have formed a friendship bond that will last a long time by helping each other to make their roles so life-like.
Of course, there's Cinderella’s wicked step-sisters, or should we say the very ugly sisters Mona (Suzanna Mace) and Grizelda Hardup (Candy Wright) who, despite their hilarious antics failed to woo the Prince or his valet – Dandini played with aplomb and genuine humour by the incredibly talented Victoria Connolly.
Poor Cinderella was in a pickle and as much as her father Baron Hardup (played by Andy Crabb returning to a role he played 18 years ago at Careline and truly making The Baron so very believable), tried to help attend the ball, all his actions and plans were always dashed by his new wife, the very wicked stepmother Baroness Hermione Hardup (played in such an outrageously over the top way that it could only be Stevie Keen donning those frocks and wigs)!
There was always hope in sight, in the form of the ageless Buttons (Neil Carter) who was the link between the cast and the audience, always making sure Cinderella never came to any harm.
As much as he had declared his undying love for Cinders, he knew that she and the Prince were destined to be together forever. He just had to rely on the Fairy Godmother’s (Emma Delderfield) secret ingredient - the wand she waved and waved, illuminating the theatre in more ways than one.
This is Emma's first time as a principle and if you managed to catch the show then you’ll know she’s a natural, not only with her acting but also as we found out, she’s one hell of a singer and dancer!
The chorus provided a great link to the storyline with their well-rehearsed numbers. Careline is blessed with an infrastructure where we do everything in-house. All costumes are made by our seamstresses, the
sets are built by parents and partners of the cast, we have a backstage crew, a lighting gang, and a bar and front-of-house team, all of whom take their responsibilities seriously to prove that the magic doesn't just happen on stage, but behind the scenes too.
Our last part of the Cinderella story is tinged with sadness and joy. This was a Careline director’s debut for our vice president Giovanna Wallis. What a joy you have been to work with
Giovanna, as an accomplished actor, singer and dancer you understood everyone's needs and requirements and the cast has rewarded you with a show you are extremely proud of.
Sadly Giovanna's wonderful mother Tina passed away last year and was not there to see her daughter make her director’s debut. Tina will be sadly missed by everyone at Careline.
So there you have it, you cheered and booed, laughed and cried and even sang along to
Wiggly Worm!
We are and always will be only as good as our audience and we would like to say a huge thank you to you all - You were brilliant.
To find more about forthcoming productions, help out backstage or even try your hand at acting, singing or dancing please visit our website www.careline theatre.net or find us on Facebook: Careline Theatre Alcalali and Careline Performing Arts and Dance Academy.