Junior Pantomime Trip

All the girls in the Junior School had a fantastic time visiting the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton to watch, ‘Cinderella' staring international superstar Jimmy Osmond as ‘Buttons'!   So much so, that two girls, Ffion Lucas and Iona Wilson, have written about it.

By Ffion Lucas - U2I

On Friday 9 January all of Bedford High School juniors went to the Derngate theatre in Northampton.  We went to go to see Cinderella.  The stage setting was great because it was 3D!!.  My favourite scene was when the ugly step sisters came on for their first appearance.  They came on in old granny's motorized wheel chairs.  It was very funny because you would think that they were just normal old granny's.  But these old granny's, you could not stop them!  They came on the stage in glitter suits all JAZZED UP!  They were perfect!!!!

The next thing I will tell you about is the actors and who played who.

Jimmy Osmond - Buttons
Danielle York - Cinderella
Ryan Dawson - Prince Charming
Step Sisters - unknown
Peter Piper- Basil Fawlty, Ali G, Gorilla, David Attenborough and Cinderella's father.

Jimmy Osmond was the famous person.  He played Buttons and he sang songs! Like "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool" and "Love Me for a Reason" they where both great.  In "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool" the director decided to get huge balloons and throw them into the audience.  In another song they got Jimmy to have a firework in his guitar.  It was great because it just flew out!  I would give Jimmy a 10/10.

Here's a little secret.  I sat next to Mrs Ibbotson and when the songs were sang she started to sing!

Danielle York was good as Cinderella.  She looked the part and suited the part.  She was a great actor and I would give her an 8/10.

Ryan Dawson was ok!  He just didn't suit the part.  I would give him a 5/10.

Peter Piper was great at acting! He amused all of us and I really don't know how he pretends to be all of the people.  He learnt his script very well and fitted in!  He was one of the funniest people on stage!  I would give him a 10/10!

I would like to say well done to the director for getting it spot on.  I would give this a huge 10/10 altogether!!!!!  Overall I think everybody loved it!  I thought everything was great and huge thank you to Mrs Payne for organising the day out.

By Iona Wilson U2I 

Cinderella the pantomime was very good.  The ugly sisters were very funny and I loved every minute of it.  When they came in on old lady motor bikes in 70's outfits it was so funny.  They wore absurd outfits every time they came in.  Different as well.  Cinderella's father was hilarious.  When he came in on scooter, and his wig fell off, it was so funny.  When he was in the cage, I could not stop giggling.

The pantomime had a very good plot.  It was about Cinderella but, it went a bit off the main story.  It looked as though it was based in the 70's, but still had bits from other times.  The scenery was just beautiful.  It had bright colours and it was realistic.  I liked the way they made the scenery look 3-D.  There was no running around moving props like in most plays or pantomimes and the script was very good.

Jimmy Osmond played Buttons, Danielle York played Cinderella, Peter Piper played Baron Hardup and Ryan Dawson played Prince Charming.  Jimmy Osmond was the best actor in the show, closely followed by Danielle.  Jimmy could sing and dance and all.  Danielle's was very good and she looked lovely in her ballgown.  Princess Starlight - lovely name, and outfit.  Her dress sparkled like 1 million little tiny diamonds, while her glass slippers were almost silent.

Ryan Dawson's acting was just slimy.  His servant was ten times better that Ryan.  He looked like a dope and acted like one.  Peter was very funny!  The ugly sisters were extremely good. They were so funny too.  Their outfits were hilarious.

The panto was amazing.  I loved it when the prince's servant, followed by his best friend, followed by the prince, was pulling off the ugly sister's sock.  It was sooooo long.  She said she was still wearing the winter ones.

I would give it 8 and three quarters, because everything seemed to happen to the people sitting at the front.  It was unfair.  I mean it could happen to people sitting further back.  Not just at the front.  The panto itself was one of the best pantomimes I've ever seen in my life.