Republican News · Thursday 29 January 1998

[An Phoblacht]

Cinders comes to the `Murph

Cinderella and the Snow Angels
Performed by the Whole Shebang Theatre Group
Venue: BIFHE Whiterock, Belfast.

This was a show with all the traditional Panto trimmings - ugly sisters, a wicked stepmother, a Good Fairy and 200 children shouting `Look out behind you!' - and then some more: a helicopter buzzing overhead, a wee lad selling cigarettes and selection boxes from a grip bag, Buttons missing his Da, in the Kesh.

Congratulations to Paddy McCann for his streetwise leprechaun. This young fella engaged the audience with his charm and wit from the word go. Incredible to believe that this is his first time on stage. This lad is a natural, with hard work and dedication he could be going places.

From the cheer that went up as Cinderella (Nichola McGreevy) ditched her `Prince Charming' (Gerard Caufield as a laid back Aussie pop-star) and walked into the sunset with the boy next door, it was clear that this Panto - under the confident direction of Maura O'Reilly.- had touched the hearts of the kids from Ballymurphy, Turf Lodge and New Barnsley. The Ugly Sisters - (Fiona McVeigh and Katrina McEvoy as Spice Girl Wannabes) were the baddest, meanest girls in the West and when the `wee hoods' (Sean Morgan and Paul Kelly) kidnapped Good Fairy, Tiny Tara (a charming performance by ten year old Amanda Doherty), the place erupted with kids screaming `Let her go!'

The role of the Pantomine Dame was strongly delivered by Caroline McDonnell, as a Ballymurphy mother seeing off army helicopters, hoods and wicked witches with one blast from her mighty mouth. She ended up marrying the pop star's publicity agent (Thomas MacMahon, in trilby hat and trench coat) ``Are you married, single, widowed, divorced or separated?'' he asks. ``Aye,'' she says. ``Which one?'' says he. ``The whole lot!''

The chorus of tiny Snow Angels and the graceful Irish dancers who closed and opened each Act were the apple of every mother's eye. Top marks to Karen Gormley for her dynamic choreography.

As far as the dads were concerned, Tisha, the wicked witch of the west, was the Xmas cracker most of them would like to pull. A stunning performance from Lisa Doherty, poured into black leather cat suit and sprouting green feathers.

The eye catching set (designed and built by Deirdre Mackel), a combination of traditional panto and Ballymurphy street life, and the first class lighting (thanks to G2) Made this a great night out for an amazing 50p a ticket for kids. My only problem was a difficulty in catching all of the lines from Pauline Hadaway's script - which was a pity as she delivered some cracking one liners. Part of the problem was the acoustics in the hall, and the sheer noise, enthusiasm and volume of the young audience, but the young actors tended to drop their voices from time to time. Lack of confidence? No need for that. This group have got a lot going for them and I look forward to their next production.

By Eddie Robinson


Contents Page for this Issue
Reply to: Republican News