My Cultural Life - London

Cinderella – Pantoland’s ultimate rags to romance fairytale – has been given a modern and mischievous makeover, by the inimitable writer, actor and comedian Stephen Fry, for its arrival at The Old Vic this festive season.

Veteran actress Pauline Collins stars as the Fairy Godmother, alongside comedian Sandi Toksvig who takes on the role of the Narrator. The supporting cast, which includes Debbie Chazen, Oliver Chopping, Hal Fowler, Paul Keating, Mark Lockyer, Joseph Millson and Madeleine Worrall, complete a notable line-up for the world premiere of Fry’s unique and eagerly awaited version.
 
This legendary tale, of course, opens with poor Cinders living in misery with her cruel stepmother and step-sisters, before her life is altered forever with one magical wave of her Fairy Godmother’s wand. As always, Cinderella is jam-packed with mayhem, music and misbehaviour, but with Fry’s pen bringing an indefinable sense of wit and hilarity to the story, this cheeky update is promising to amuse children and adults in equal measure.

Although this version of Cinderella is being undoubtedly enhanced with Fry’s sharp repartee and imaginative vision, all the classic fairytale ingredients still appear, and the traditional time-honoured themes behind a good ol’ Christmas pantomime were still key during the creation.

Stephen Fry, perhaps best known for his collaboration with comedy partner Hugh Laurie and currently hosting the popular BBC two show QI, says: ‘It may sound wearingly like an attempt to be cool, hip and relevant to say that pantomime is interactive, but as something of a computer and a gadget geek, I’ve yet to find any gismo from the digital age that can match pantomime for genuine interactivity. ‘Look behind you’ and ‘Oh no, it isn’t’ still can’t be beat for getting a child involved – not by a wilderness of Wiis and Playstations.’

Although it was Fry who put pen to paper to twist the tale, it is Fiona Laird – whose credits include Oh What A Lovely War, Guys and Dolls, Peter Pan, all at the National Theatre – who takes the reins as director, while the music comes from critically-acclaimed musician Anne Dudley, who has created soundtracks for dozens of award-winning films and television shows, including The Full Monty (for which she won an Oscar).

So, with an impressive cast from British stage and screen (including Shirley Valentine herself) treading the boards, and a number of celebrated professionals behind the certain, this certainly isn’t your average pantomime, and the murmur around town whispers ‘must see’.

Kevin Spacey, Old Vic artistic director, says: ‘I’m enormously pleased by the range of talented artists joining us to make Cinderella a truly spectacular event this Christmas.  The combination of such British favourites as Pauline Collins and Sandi Toksvig with a remarkable range of young and talented cast from stage, television and film will create something truly special.  I can’t wait to see how they all bring to life Stephen’s marvellously witty story and characters to the sound of Anne Dudley’s great new songs. It’s the perfect celebration of The Old Vic’s vaudeville history and a great deal of fun.’

And a great deal of fun it promises to be, as judging by earlier form, panto-lovers will arrive in their droves. The Old Vic’s previous panto production of Aladdin, starring Ian McKellen as Widow Twankey, opened in 2004 and certainly took London by storm. Rave reviews from national papers sealed the success, and McKellen returned to revive his role the following year.

On re-creating this year’s tale of Cinders, Stephen Fry explains: ‘I’ve tried to remember that for many of the children who come it will be their first Cinderella, their first pantomime and their first visit to a theatre, and that for many adults it will be their first return to pantomime since their own childhoods.  Pantomime should be the beginning of a never-ending love affair with theatre.  Oh yes it should.’