Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Paul Duckworth, Michael Fletcher, Stephen Fletcher, Lindzi Germain, Eva McKenna, Andrew Schofield, Hayley Sheen, Keddy Sutton.

Musicians: Howard Gray, Ben Gladwin, Greg Joy, Emily Linden.

Liverpool faces every threat thrown at it by Government with one of the deadliest weapons known to humanity, the ability to laugh and fight back with savage, beautiful humour. In an age when the way we live is under constant threat, it is the greatest of attributes that we possess theatres, artists and writers who are unafraid to deliver the joke that entertains the many, whilst the undercurrent gladly riles the backs of those who see the world only in terms of doctrine and political dogma.

Perhaps the story of Cinderella sustains its appeal with the public because of the parallels of the way we look to climb the ladder of social acceptance, that our shoes don’t always fit and that we can be surrounded by the cruel and downright wicked; for the writer of this year’s Christmas spectacular at the Royal Court, Kevin Fearon, the analogy is too great to ignore and in true Royal Court fashion, Cinderella Scouse is the most wonderful, outrageous response to certain factors that have come to the public’s attention. A green story wrapped in social conscious, delivered with every laugh possible.

A cast that never gives anything less than a full-on performance will always have, and rightly so, a barrel full of compliments attached to there names when spoken of in the streets, homes and coffee bars of the city. To have such personal, undoubted talent at the Royal Court’s disposal is a rich vein of polished diamonds that money cannot buy. The only thing to do when confronted by a company which ignites the desire to laugh, fans the flames of every chuckle muscle you possess, is to go with the ride that endures and leaves you enraptured, positively glowing inside and out and rolling in the aisles.

In amongst such a season cast and ones that are masters of their profession, one perhaps would never dream of just singling out an actor for praise but for Eva McKenna the tribute must be paid, to stand tall amongst the realities of a Christmas offering, the seasons most looked forward to events and perform under such scrutiny, and to be a joy to watch, delivering one of the most superbly written lines with sheer poise, that alone makes her deserving of acclaim.

With the ever delightful Keddy Sutton and Lindzi Germain pulling off one of the great parodies in tribute to the Renee and Renato song from December 1982, Save Your Love, the stage is set for an utterly enjoyable evening, one that demonstrates fully that Liverpool’s culture and spirit will always fight back against the passionless and dogged persistent nagging of those who see life and people as a commodity, there only to be valued in terms of pounds and pence and profit potential.

Make a date in your diary, you should, and must attend the ball that is Scouse Cinderella, it is after all, a beautiful infatuation.

Ian D. Hall