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Classic Pantomime Version of Cinderella Review by Sarah Shaw - Music Teacher Magazine
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Interestingly, Val Hawthorne’s classic pantomime version of Cinderella is aimed at only key stage one, yet it is infinitely more challenging in terms of acting, staging and sheer quantity of words than many Key Stage 2 works. That said, children enjoy a challenge and there is plenty of amusing banter here that would appeal to even the youngest participants. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the music: including reprises, nine out of the 13 numbers are in 4:4 with a similar pulse. With the exception of the attractive ballad ‘Everybody’s gone to the ball’, most songs are based on only three chords and the tunes are equally restrictive, both in range and melodic inventions. To be fair, as a pantomime, the music could be seem as less important than the action, but any group of young children capable of interpreting drama, comedy and even dancing at this level surely deserve a musical challenge too. (Posted on 11/04/2011)
