Cinderella at the Rose Theatre is a modern retelling of the classic tale, with a cast largely made up of young actors from the Rose Youth Theatre company. The production boasts witty and heartfelt script, courtesy of co-writers Chris Bush and Roni Neale, but it's often marred by excessive complexity that veers between realistic theatre and slapdash pantomime.
The show's reliance on special effects is undeniable, with a magical microwave and memorable costume changes inside a fridge adding to the festive atmosphere. A standout trio of cheese-obsessed mice bring comedic charm, while Jack Fernie shines as the deliciously camp and convincing cat, Mr Bingles.
However, this adaptation's biggest weakness lies in its overstretched narrative, which struggles to justify key plot points such as Ella's willingness to attend a ball or her desire to marry a prince. The reimagining of the baby sisters as fully grown women also raises questions about character development and consistency.
It isn't until Ella returns to her "real life" that the show's songs – initially dismissed as skits – reveal their emotional depth, with Matt Winkworth's lyrics tackling themes of frustration, sorrow, and longing. Maddy Hunter shines in her portrayal of Ella, capturing the difficulties of making a blended family work in I Remember.
Beneath its noise and spectacle lies a beautiful story about the love between a stepmum and her stepdaughter – one that's tantalisingly glimpsed but often overshadowed by the production's more obvious elements.
The show's reliance on special effects is undeniable, with a magical microwave and memorable costume changes inside a fridge adding to the festive atmosphere. A standout trio of cheese-obsessed mice bring comedic charm, while Jack Fernie shines as the deliciously camp and convincing cat, Mr Bingles.
However, this adaptation's biggest weakness lies in its overstretched narrative, which struggles to justify key plot points such as Ella's willingness to attend a ball or her desire to marry a prince. The reimagining of the baby sisters as fully grown women also raises questions about character development and consistency.
It isn't until Ella returns to her "real life" that the show's songs – initially dismissed as skits – reveal their emotional depth, with Matt Winkworth's lyrics tackling themes of frustration, sorrow, and longing. Maddy Hunter shines in her portrayal of Ella, capturing the difficulties of making a blended family work in I Remember.
Beneath its noise and spectacle lies a beautiful story about the love between a stepmum and her stepdaughter – one that's tantalisingly glimpsed but often overshadowed by the production's more obvious elements.
like, yes those things are cool but theyre not everything! i mean im a big fan of Maddy Hunter as Ella, she brings so much depth and emotion to that role 
, and Matt Winkworth's lyrics really shine in the songs 
. its true the narrative can be kinda wonky at times, but thats not the whole story - its about the love between Ella and her stepmum 
, which is honestly what makes it so special 
. dont get me wrong i loved the cheese mice too 
!
Stats say 80% of reviews praised the young cast, with an average rating of 4/5 stars on NetizenHub 
. Meanwhile, on YouTube, the official trailer has raked in over 10M views in just a week - talk about buzz! 
The special effects? Not for the faint of heart, but I reckon they added to the production's magic 
.
. On the other hand, the song 'I Remember' by Matt Winkworth has been viewed over 2M times on Vevo - proof that even the more somber moments can resonate with audiences 
The production has raised $1.2M for charity, too! 
These stats just go to show how powerful storytelling can be when done right 
I feel like these young actors are killing it with Cinderella! I loved how they brought life to those cheesy mice 
And don't even get me started on how they handled the baby sisters thing...still trying to wrap my head around that one 
. But seriously though, when the show slowed down and let those emotional songs shine, it was really beautiful 
. Maddy Hunter as Ella just gave me all the feels 
.
. But Maddy Hunter as Ella is pretty great! She brings so much depth and emotion to her performance, especially in "I Remember". It's like you can feel her frustration and longing. The show's trying to tackle some big themes, but sometimes it feels a bit messy 
. Still, the mice are hilarious 
The special effects were so much fun, especially when those mice came out - who knew cheese could be so funny? 
But sometimes I felt like they were trying too hard to make it feel like a real movie rather than just a theatre production. And the pacing was a bit off, with some scenes feeling rushed and others dragging on too long.
. But honestly, I'd love to see a more streamlined narrative – sometimes less is more, you know? 
.