THE RAGS to riches tale of Cinderella delighted a packed audience at Stourbridge Town Hall where the town’s panto company put on the classic fairytale.

The sell out show offered plenty of entertainment for children and adults alike with Will Phipps as Buttons becoming a firm kids’ favourite and Dave Jones and Mark Horne stealing the show as the hilarious ugly sisters Grizelda and Mona Hardup with their risque jokes amusing the mums and dads in the audience and their cruel antics drawing plenty of boos from the youngsters.

Chelsea Little was an enchanting Cinders, finding her happy ending with Prince Charming, played by confident all-round performer Emma Mitchell.

Fairy Godmother (Anna Hough) showcased her wonderful voice in the part and Steven Humpherson was hilarious as a very Black Country Baron Henry Hardup in the show, which was directed and choreographed by Mike Capri.

Julia Troman as the mean Baroness raised as many boos and hisses as her daughters whilst making life a misery for Cinderella and her father. The Prince's servant Dandini was played by Sarah Rose who provided some fun banter with The Ugly Sisters.

There was plenty of audience participation, which culminated in a mass dance to Gangnam Style, which rather worryingly almost everyone, young and old, seemed to know the moves to!

Local references were thrown in for amusement and wonderful scenery and costumes as well as sparkling dance routines created a beautiful spectacle.

Unfortunately there is a whole year to wait for Stourbridge Pantomime Company’s next production - Mother Goose at Stourbridge Town Hall in January 2014!

by Helen Attwood