Glittering Lakes Players give Cinderella a sparkling new edge (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Glittering Lakes Players give Cinderella a sparkling new edge

9:00am Monday 9th January 2012 in Stage By Adrian Mullen, Arts correspondent

LAKES Players promise another glittering pantomime extravaganza, running from January 24-29 at the Lakes School.

This year’s must-see production is the well-loved, family favourite Cinderella, the fabulous fable of a young servant girl.

Lucy Anna Hopson takes the role of the Fairy and popular Lakeland thespian Simon Yaxley plays Buttons, Cinderella’s best friend and secret admirer.

The show is, as usual, in the capable guiding hands of Stewart Hart. However, the doyenne of grand dames is taking a year out from treading the boards, hanging up his heels to put all his time and energy into directing the show.

Explained Stewart: “I have really tried to direct this year’s show with a quirky edge. Cinders is loveable and dippy but gutsy too.

“The uglies are a lot more sarcastic than usual with each other and everyone else.

“Overall I tried to create a panto with a new edge yet keeping with tradition, and the songs are much more recent and up to date than in past years.

“And I really love adding in ‘organised mistakes.’ “I feel we’ve created a much more contemporary version yet kept to the tradition of costume and scenery.”

Well-known hair stylist and co-owner of Aqua salon in Windermere, Stewart recalled that he first got involved with the players in 1994 when passing a friend in the street.

“She asked me if I would like to get involved. I said yes and asked when it was. She said next week. So, I was literally thrown into it. I learned the dances and songs in one week and played the chorus in Cinderella.”

Lakes Players productions are increasingly lavish affairs, which Stewart puts down mainly to audience demand.

“They expect bigger and better each year so I’m always on the lookout for new effects such as flying water fountains and flying carpets. Another amazing connection we have is with Paul Gavin of Purple Sheep, who is based in London and we could not put on such a spectacle without his help.

“He keeps us updated with the London scene and what’s new with regards to special effects.

“With costs rising due to transporting scenery and costumes it’s important for us to raise as much money as possible. Our funding comes mostly from the group’s own hard work. We hold certain fundraising events such as our annual ball held each spring at the Merewood Hotel which is always a sell-out. We also put on fashion shows, pudding nights, quiz nights and cheese and wine cabaret evenings. We are also grateful to local businesses that sponsor the show and advertise in our programme.”

Heroine Cinderella is played by Becky Ives, whose handsome prince is popular thespian Pippa Wilson. Helen Ansell is in the role of Cinders evil stepmother and the Ugly Sisters Flatula and Verucca are played by side-splitting twosome Anthony Dean and Sonia Fallowfield.

In true LP style, the lush and rip-roaring romp has bags of surprises and plenty of top tunes put together by Stewart and Catherine Robinson, who choreographs the show.

Stewart’s a lover of ‘old Broadway’ and all the classics such as Oklahoma and The King and I, the ‘greats’ he was involved in as a youngster.

“I think my favourite to direct would have to be Carousel; as panto goes my favourite so far would be Robinson Crusoe.”

Down the years, there have been many magic moments for Stewart. Although, he pointed out, the highlights are the slop scenes. “Most of these scenes are ad-libbed and as the show progresses the more slop and mess appears, so anything can happen. A particular favourite for me was baking the fish pie scene in Dick Whittington where bill the bosun was so wet with buckets of slop and water that he just couldn’t get up after falling and had to exit stage on his hands and knees.”

Stewart’s a Lancashire lad and went to school at Ashton-in-Makerfield.

His interest in theatre started at the tender age of nine: “It was my gran that used to take me to all the shows in London and Manchester, so I suppose I have her to thank.”

He moved to the Lakes in 1992.

As those who know him will vouch - he loves panto: “Because anything is possible. What I’ve learned as a director over the years is that if you want to put a talking cat or a tap dancing horse into the script you can. The list is endless. Each year I always rewrite the script to accommodate our group and I just have to let my imagination run wild.

“For me it is the passion for theatre that keeps me going and the excitement of performing. The biggest pleasure is to see the smile on the audiences faces while watching the show. As a group it is the amazing memories you hold after being part of something for such a long time. The week of the show, you just live and breathe panto so it is important that we all enjoy what we do to and have fun.”

Tickets are available from Spirit Womenswear, Bowness.