Cinderella at the Deco is simply the best pantomime starring
television personalities to be staged in Northampton for some years.
It is totally true to the story and very colourful yet does not
deafen you and is thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end.

The task of ear-splitting sound is left to the children in the
audience with the huge volume of their cheers and boos in fairly
equal quantities for Buttons and the Broker's Men. It was however
Sweep - of Sooty fame - whose performance as Pavarotti got the
loudest cheer of all.

Ex-EastEnder Lucy Benjamin was charming as Cinderella with an
alluring singing voice and Jean Fergusson of Last of the Summer Wine
a wonderful Fairy Marina, whose Simply the Best was something else.

Tucker as Buttons was loved by one and all and local lad Eddie
Caswell was a delightful Baron Hardup. For me personally, the stars
of this show were the ugly sisters, played by Nick Bayly and Chris
Coughlin, ably assisted by some stunning and amazing costumes. They
were the perfect ugly sisters in every way. In comparison the
broker's men, Jagger and Woody from Northants `96, clearly need a
little time to settle into their roles.

Meanwhile Daniel Dean as Dandini and Andrew Newton-Lee were suitably
regal and royal.

You can't help loving Sooty and Sweep, whatever your age, even when
Sooty douses you with water from a pistol.

Caroline Morris

Production information (more info)
Management: Duo Entertainment Ltd
Cast: Lucy Benjamin, Jean Fergusson, Sooty and Sweep, Andrew Newton-
Lee, Tucker, Nick Bayly, Chris Coughlin, Daniel Dean, Jagger and
Woody, Eddie Caswell, Gemma Daniels, Vicki Douglas, Sarah Dunning,
Charlene Williams, David Richardson, Matthew Warren, Chaplins Stage
School
Director: Joan Golden
Choreography: Diana Malin

taken from The Stage

BRIAN