Spark in Cinders

Michael Green reviews Theatr Clwyd's Cinderella - The Rock 'n'Roll Panto

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THE rock 'n' roll panto at Theatr Clwyd in Mold is, in so many ways, the very definition of a Christmas tradition. It is an absolutely essential part of the festive season in this area in the same way that the top 40 singles are dominated by the same songs every December, we watch the same movie staples every year and the dinner table every December 25 features the same favourite food and drink offerings.

I'm not even sure when the Mold tradition began (Google Al claims the first one took place in 1976 which sounds about right) but we are certainly talking many decades and it even survived the upheaval of the venue's massive recent refurbishment during which it was staged in a specially crafted big top.

The ingredients rarely change - an assembly of pop and rock bangers old and new, a cast packed with incredibly talented actor/musicians, a script full of innuendo and Welsh references (Rhyl invariably the butt of many cruel jokes!) and, of course, the utterly legendary Phylip Harries as the outrageously costumed Dame.

Quite frankly it doesn't matter one jot whether it is Mother Goose, Dick Whittington, Babes in the Wood or Sleeping Beauty - it is the familiarity of the format which keeps audiences flocking to the North Wales venue in their droves every year.

This year it is Cinderella and once again it sees director Daniel Lloyd and writer Christian Patterson joining forces to bring the usual elements together as they have become the 21st century custodians of the tradition with Lloyd originally starring as Dick Whittington 20 years ago while Patterson has performed in more than 20 productions at the venue over the years.