European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Among the stars of the Wimbledon production of Cinderella Are Bonnie Langford As Cinderella above and Brian Conley As buttons. In British pantomime there s nothing Subtle about the action but there Are lots of songs and laughs. Above a Leggy Prince charming and Quot his Quot sidekick Dandini surrounded by courtiers. By Amy Geiszler Jones . Bureau a As the drum Roll sounded and the curtain Rose the i Ltd us murmuring from the audience of 1,7.00 people seated in the Plush Burgundy seats of the 80-year-old theater was replaced with claps and cheers. London s Wimbledon theatre was about to begin another pantomime season. The theater which opened dec. 26, 1910, with a presentation of the pantomime Jack and the beanstalk was ready to launch into Cinderella a but it probably was t the Cinderella you Are used to. The pantomimes performed in Heaters across great Britain during the Holiday season and for about four to six weeks into the new year area far cry from the mimed performances americans tend to associate with pantomime. British pantomimes or Pantos arc More like a variety show full of song and dance skits male and female impersonators slapstick improvisation and a Good dose of audience participation. Usually based on children s fairy tales or stories these family entertainment shows have been a tradition for decades. But Don t expect the Panto to be a traditional fairy tale. In the theater s version of Cinderella there is no evil Stepmother Cinderella still gets her Man in the end but other parts of the Story have been changed. Cinderella lives at an estate with her father Baron hard up who announces that he plans to marry a woman Voith two ugly daughters. The daughters who in the Panto Are actually Cinderella s stepsisters to be arrive for a visit and do All their usual Nasty scheming. British Pantos Trace their roots to a 16th Century italian Art form Commedia Dell arte w hich was taken from carnival farces. The form spread through Europe in the 1500s and 1600s by professional actors who based their performances on a certain plot hut added and improvised situations and dialogue. In the 1700sr the popularity of Commedia Dell arte declined but the 19th Century saw its revival in the form that is performed in British Heaters today casts for the Pantos always have at feast one Man playing a Dames role while a woman plays the principal boy role. Sometimes the productions include a Well known British personality or two such As former Boxer Frank Bruno or comedian Ken Dodd. In the Case of the Wimbledon theatre s Panto actress Barbara Windsor perhaps Best known in Britain As the. Bumbling sex Vixen in the carry on film series is playing the fairy godmother. Quot the men in drag in the Cinderella Panto play the parts of the ugly stepsisters who Are ironically named Krystle and Alexis the main women of dynasty Fame. Each scene finds them sporting a different outrageous outfit. In the Palace Ball scene Krystle looks like an ice Gyles Brandreth revels in his role As Baron hard up Cream sundae with a peach coloured wig and a while hat with a red Bauble on top Alexis sports a Green wig with an outfit in the Queen of hearts Motif. The principal boy role Prince charming is played by a Blond actress. Another actress plays the Prince s Valet Dandini. Imagination really has to play a part when the audience witnesses the blossoming love Between Cinderella and the Prince singing you Light up my life to each other. The Pantos poke a bit of fun at things that Are popular or familiar such As television commercials or current events., some references to the commercials might be lost on those unfamiliar with British television. For instance in the Cinderella Panto the fairy godmother says she grew up drinking fairy liquid which tithe Brand name of a dish detergent sold in Britain another Point one of the servants but torts rides on to the stage in a child s tricycle while the Steve Miller band hit the joker plays in the background that s a spoof on the Levi s 501 jeans commercial where a Man Riding a motorcycle actually comes off an office a elevator drives to the desk of a woman who removes her skirt dons a pair of 501s and hops on the Cycle. Other references however Are pretty Universal. During one of the skits buttons shows he s a rappin dude and says he has a Turtle named ninja although in Britain the Quot ninja Quot in the teenage mutant ninja turtles Moniker has been changed try Quot hero Quot.  joins in when he shouts Quot Cowa Bunga Quot a familiar expression of the four popular terrapins. Cinderella is playing at the Wimbledon theatre nightly except mondays and sundays until feb. 3. Matinees Are wednesdays thursdays saturdays and sundays ticket prices for weekday performances Are 9 pounds 50 Pence about $ 188 pounds 50 Pence and 7 pounds 50 Pence for weekend performances the ticket prices increase by 1 Pound. The Box office i an be reached at 081 540-0362, monday through saturday from 10 am. To 8 pm. 1 he theater located on the Broadway is about a tie minute walk from the Wimbledon underground station. 10 stripes Magazine january 17, 1991