"Cinderella"

December 16. 2023 — This is not Disney's Cinderella. It definitely isn't the Grimm's fairy tale you may have read as a child, or was read to you. This is an English panto (short for pantomime), developed in England and traditionally played near Christmas. Usually based on a well-known fairy tale, it includes music, dancing, slapstick comedy, topical humor and mild sexual innuendo. The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (the "Winni") in Meredith, New Hampshire, staged a panto most holiday seasons until 2020 when COVID brought a halt to this type of play for three years. But they're back with a stunning production this year,

Cinderella by former Winni artistic director Neil Pankhurst is promoted on the Winni website as "filled with big costumes, dynamic dancing, silly slapstick for the littles, innuendo for the adults, and a double entendre or two (or three)...a treat for all ages 3 to 103!" The Playhouse Professional Company, along with a bunch of talented kids, deliver on this promise with flying colors.

Buttons, the Bell Boy (Seth Turner), encourages the audience to participate loudly, expressing approval or disapproval as appropriate, and guides the play through its songs, dance numbers and story. Winni veteran Jim Rogato is Baron Basil Hardup and Ashley Meeken, who we last saw in "Mamma Mia" at the Winni, is his wife, Baroness Sybil Hardup. Sophia Kim is an irresistible Ella, later to become Cinderella. Kat Gold played the dual roles of Lily and the spirit of Ella's mother.

A feature of pantos has always been gender-switching, and this production lives up to that tradition. Prince Charming is played by Teghan Marie Kelly. Molly Chiffer assumes the male role of the prince's buddy, Dandini. The two ugly sisters, Philis and Lydia, absolutely steal the show as played by Robert Hooghkirk and Nick Winkler. In garishly ornate gowns and accessories, wielding folding fans, preening, snarky, insulting, all with exaggerated feminine gestures, they really chewed up scenery when they were on stage.

The songs, a mix of pop, golden oldies and classical, some parodied, were marvelous. Dances literally rocked the house. I particularly enjoyed a tap dance number featuring the entire ensemble led by Seth Turner. The production ran about two and one-half hours with one 15-minute intermission, longer than average, but the energy never flagged and neither did audience enthusiasm.

Neil Pankhurst directed this production. Judy Hayward was music director and Nicole Sullivan directed choreography. The many fantastic costumes were designed by DW. Many more contributed. It's great to have panto back at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse.