Review by Marilyn Barber

A troop of small children sporting Elvis wigs and aviator sunglasses, and a frozen forest were two of the innovative ingredients in Highcliffe Charity Players’ production of this popular panto.

And it even started in a new way, with the audience being introduced to a very young Cinderella (played by Ellie Wells, Darcey Dupreeze and Ariana Medhurst depending on which performance you saw) and her real mother (Charlee Doherty).

As in 2022, the production was 90 minutes with no interval, and this works well, particularly for younger children.

Georgia Carter was a lively and engaging fairy, with Olivia Reeks nailing it as the quintessential grown up Cinderella.

John-Luke Greenacre went amusingly over the top as Prince Charming, making a good team with Emma Barrington as Dandini, with Matt Morrell as the suitably dotty as Baron Hardup.

The character of Buttons is intrinsic to the story as his job is to engage with the children, which Malcolm George managed splendidly.

The players reined back on the costumes for the Ugly Sisters. They were seriously over the top in an outrageous glitz and ‘glamour’ way but not grotesquely ugly and this worked well as Harry Young and Stan Smith still managed to maintain their cruel, yet amusing persona.

As with every HCP production, you can always be guaranteed professionalism, live music, good dancers and music and brilliant costumes.

Congratulations to director Pete Whitaker and musical director Stuart Darling.