Hamilton District Youth Theatre’s production of Cinderella

Dec 10 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A SURE sign that Christmas is coming is panto time at the theatre.

If we have as happy a time at Christmas (as the audiences and cast did at Hamilton Town House last week), then we can look forward to a really good time.

The occasion – Hamilton District Youth Theatre’s presentation of Cinderella – was a wonderful fun-filled evening away from the depressing economic news in the press and TV.

The fairytale of Cinderella is a very familiar one, but here it was brought right up-to-date with a funny script written by Jude Ryan.

From the opening number, Buttons and company made sure the audience would get involved – and get involved they did, enjoying every minute.

The principal parts were well cast: Katherine McCluskey an excellent fairy godmother who also doubled as the queen; Daniel McAuley a cheery, cheeky Buttons; Marissa Russo a suitably evil baroness; Stuart Love a ‘do as you’re told’ baron who eventually stood up for himself; Jude Ryan (and on Wednesday David Marshall) a couple of showstoppers as the Ugly Sisters, Paris Travel-Lodge and Nikki Travel-Lodge; Sarah McLean a lovely Cinderella; Clare Ryan a mischievous Prince Charming, and his faithful attendant Mhairi McMurray as Dandini; Martyn McCann completed a first class principal cast as king.

However there’s more to a show than the principal parts. Take a bow, boys and girls of the company. You looked good and you sounded good.

Costumes and staging were very good, as was the musical accompaniment. Hats off to the production team – artistic director, Steve Mann; assistant director, Jude Ryan; choreographer, Laura Beswick, musical director, Greg Muir.

Did we enjoy ourselves? Oh yes, we did.

Company: Shaun Devlin, Johnathan Atkinson, Anthony Clemente, Callum Love, Kyle Knox, Declan McKenzie, Nathan Boland, Kieran McDade, Jordan Kincaid, Daniel Walsh, Kirsty Smart, Juliette Donnelly, Amy Neil, Hannah Munro, Rachel Brand, Katy Hazlie, Erin Walsh, Abigail Conquer, Joanne Nugent, Lucy Harris, Rebecca Docherty, Erin Craig, Jennifer Constable, Melissa McDade, Becky Stevenson, Hannah Scullion, Heather McKie, Samantha Hurles, Ruth Jamieson, Jenna McFarlane, Stephanie Newberry, Bobbie Paterson, Shannon Connigle, Lauren Kincaid, Linzi Stuart, Emily Fairfull, Katie McCullagh, Hannah Dunn, Louise Newberry, Lara Henderson, Hannah Stubbs, Jemma Ross, Talia Stirling, Rachel Cunningham, Natalie Wotherspoon, Erin Duffy, Haven Bain, Rachael Lytton, Gemma Crawford, Erin McCullagh, Lauren Tait, Paula Queen, Lisa O’Hanlon, Kendal Nicol, Carolyn Constable, Ruth Turpie, Stella Miller, Sophie Bentick, Stephanie McDade.