HAVING not attended a pantomime for the best part of thirty years, I was a little apprehensive about accepting an invitation to see Ivybridge Theatre Company’s production of Norman Robbins’ Cinderella.

I had many concerns: would the humour be crude and childish? Would I be deafened by hordes of small children screaming ’he’s behind you’ throughout the piece? And would a local am dram group be able to do justice to the famous story?

The answer to all these, as it turned out, was yes. And as soon as the gorgeous, glamorous Fairy Godmother took the stage and the action began, all my worries magically disappeared.

The show’s transformation of the traditional Godmother into a glitzy, camera-loving blonde played by Jem Skinnard was a sign of things to come. This was a modern take on the classic, with bright lights, dancing, colourful costumes and a poppy soundtrack.

All Cinderella’s comic comrades were well represented. Buttons was masterfully played by Robin Lee, who took all of five seconds to get the audience well and truly on his side. Chloé Crouch was perfect as the title character, equally passionate as the heartbroken kitchen maid and the immaculately dressed belle of the ball.

Justin Avery also gave an accomplished performance as Cinders’ lily-livered father Baron Hardupp, although for sheer volume he had no chance against his new wife and Cinderella’s stepmum. Hannah Daragon was awesome as the classless, sassy and manipulative Baroness Hardupp, a force of nature eventually foiled by the power of Prince Charming’s love for the heroine.

Nat Cook as the prince had a great rapport with Jacob Jones’ Dandini, who was appearing for the first time in an ITC production, with the pair pulling off some of the more complex narrative twists with aplomb. Ann Laity and Sandra Dudley also shone as comic duo Mr Ammer and Mr Tongs, the bumbling broker’s men.

If we are talking double acts, however, special mention must go to the ugliest of stepsisters, the hideous, ridiculous and hilarious Stella and Chardonnay, played by Alan Wright and Mark Reynolds. At the heart of the show, whether bullying poor Cinderella, relentlessly pursuing the hapless Ammer and Tongs, or trying to force a false leg into the glass slipper, the sisters were the personification of local panto as it should be.

The show was at its best in the big set pieces - Cinderella setting off for the ball in her coach, the baroness and sisters chasing each other round in circles with bizarre weapons, and the colourful and dramatic finale. There were laughs galore for all ages, plenty of audience participation, and a good old singalong at the end.

This was a reworking that worked, and comes highly recommended. With four more performances at The Watermark still to come on Friday at 7.30pm, Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and Sunday at 2.30pm, there are plenty more opportunities to see ITC in action this half term.

Tickets are available from The Watermark box office on 01752 892220 or online at www.ivybridgewatermark.co.uk .