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The Queen's show is very colourful and very loud. It's got most of the traditional elements but manages to look fresh and modern as well. Catherine Hamilton makes a very sweet Cinderella while Allison Harding is equally winning as a grandmotherly probationer good fairy who still has to earn her wings. Top marks really go to Nick Lashbrook as Buttons who has a masterly command of the audience and provides a lot of competition for the ugly sisters who take quite a while to warm up but are funny when they get there.
The costumes and set are gorgeous. The ugly sisters are indeed a sight to behold and the transformation scene drew rounds of applause. My only quarrel is with the amplification of the music: The instruments were fine (an onstage quartet of musicians) but the voices were distorted and sometimes painful to listen to. More balance was really needed.
Lively and very good on the eye.
Catch Cinderella at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch from now until the 14th January. Tickets cost �15-�17 for adults and �10-�11 for children. The box office 01708 443333.
BBC Essex Online - 9th December 2005
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