FIVE STARS
CINDERELLA is one of
the great fairy stories most kids know - a girl who is mistreated by
her wicked step-mother but who eventually wins the hand of the
handsome Prince Charming.
And a fantastic, modern
re-imagining of the story by theatre company Travelling Light, is
brought beautifully to life at the Unicorn Theatre.
When Ella's mother
dies, she is brought up by her devoted and loving father who not only
teaches her to dance but he also teaches her the names and calls of
the woodland birds that surround her home.
Together they spend
happy hours together in the forest. But before long her father
re-marries and Ella's peaceful life is turned upside down by some new
and unpleasant relations - namely her step-mother and her twin
children.
Tragedy strikes soon
after the wedding with the untimely and perhaps suspicious death of
her father and things are never the same again for Ella.
Her step-mother forces
her away from her beloved feathered friends and the woods and forces
her to clean all day and sleep by the fire at night.
But one day Ella
escapes back to the forest and meets a fellow bird enthusiast trying
to find some ellusive birds.
They become friends,
but all is not as it seems.
It is an utterly
delightful show with a great script and a far cry from the schmalzy
saccharine Disney version - and all the better for it. In fact in
places it's quite dark too - think hacked off toes!
But with a stellar cast
of five including Sarah Kameela Impey as Cinderella and Mark Kane as
the unconventional Prince, beautiful music and puppetry all tied
together in a quirky, funny and cleverly written story, this is a
total joy.
Cinderella is on at the
Unicorn Theatre, Tooley Street until January 5.
Tickets cost from £15.
Visit www.unicorntheatre.com or call the box office on 020 7645 0560
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