Few pantomimes can instantly inspire images of rags to riches, sadness to happiness, lowly servant to the talk of the society ball and a prince finding his princess as the timeless pantomime fairy tale that is Cinderella. Previously performed by Castlebar Pantomime in 1951, 1960, 1987 and 1997 on the Castlebar Town Hall stage, 2012 sees this much loved classic being performed for the first time by the revised Castlebar Pantomime in the Theatre Royal, Castlebar from January 11 to 15. There are 61 years of pantomime tradition within Castlebar from 1951 to 2012 and a complete change of location for the home of Castlebar Pantomime, but this ultra modern 2012 production promises to hold true to this traditional fairy tale.
Poor Cinderella, played by Ballaghaderreen native Eunice Moran, is cruelly treated by her stepmother the Baroness Beaujolais, played by Donna Ruane from Castlebar, who also found time to co-direct as well as perform in the role of the selfish baroness. No tale of Cinderella would be complete without the truly Ugly Sisters played by Francis O'Grady from Kilmeena as Hattie and James Murray from Castlebar as Mattie, who waste no opportunity to either nab themselves a potential husband or to make poor Cinderella's life miserable. Of course neither the Baroness of Beaujolais nor the Ugly Sisters would have ever come into poor Cinders’ life had her father the Baron Beaujolais, played by Castlebar's Philip McDonagh, not been (probably ) bullied into marrying this classic wicked stepmother.
With nightly shows from 7.45pm from January 11 to January 14 and matinees at 2.45pm on January 14 and 15, you are sure to have plenty of belly laughs at this year’s Castlebar Pantomime production of Cinderella.
