REVIEW | Cinderella: A Fairytale, Northern Stage
Credit: Pamela RaithWritten by Stacy
Disclaimer: gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
Northern Stage's Christmas show, Cinderella, is like stepping inside a traditional fairytale. From the aesthetically captivating set design (Alison Ashton) to the compelling narrative, the piece as a whole works perfectly from start to finish.
On entering the auditorium I was met with a number of surprising features. From the enchanting stage design to the theatre set in traverse, I was pulled into a magically charged atmosphere. The cast members were already in full swing, interacting with the children in the audience and causing great amounts of entertainment, laughter and delight, to set the scene and bring them into the world of Cinderella. This was a joy to see.
From the opening chords of the first number, it was clear that this was going to be special. This is definitely not a pantomime, a traditional tale is what you will be served, and served well at that. The narrative, on the whole, is true to the Cinderella that we know very well, but elements have been tweaked to add wonderful nuances to the piece. The folk/jazz-inspired songs, the beautiful direction, the multi-talented cast and the puppetry, is a feast for your eyes and ears.
The cast of characters that we meet on stage, are for the main part, musician/actors and this creates a wonderful element where we see the performers dance between characters and musicians to give a constant feeling of movement on the stage. One that keeps everyone entranced with the action taking place before our eyes. Each and every actor gave a strong performance, there wasn't a weak moment between them and they worked together like a true cast to elevate the piece into something extremely special.
The beautiful flow to the performance is down to the direction of Katie Weir and Jake Smith, and what a job they have done. Every part of the stage was utilised to its full advantage and everything ebbed and flowed in a dreamy fashion which is perfect for a fairytale narrative. Their choice to set the theatre in traverse also added many benefits. From the enjoyment of witnessing the audience's reaction, sitting on the opposite side of the stage, to the natural acting style that the actors can enjoy when freed from the restrictions of an end on theatre setting. This all tied together to create theatre magic.
The interactive elements with the audience is plenty to keep the children engaged with the story and it was clear to see that the school children in this performance were absolutely delighted with every chance to engage with the cast members, as the fizzing of excitement was electric in the air. My favourite moment of the piece also came from a child in the audience, as the house went quiet at the pinnacle moment where the shoe fits, a young boy shouted out "oh it's a love story" as the penny drops on the narrative conclusion. "Out of the mouthes of babes" as the saying goes, and it all adds to the joys of the theatre experience.
Cinderella: A Fairytale is a triumph. From start to finish the entire piece is enchanting. The perfect tale to experience this Christmas.
At Northern Stage until 6 January 2024.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
