Mr Cinders

Cast & Creative

Cast List

Character	Actor
Jim Lancaster	James Meehan
Jill Kemp	Janet Simpson
Lady Lancaster	Lynne Tompkins
Sir George	Bob Salter
Guy Lancaster	Gavin Morgan
Lumley Lancaster	Andrew MacBean
Henry Kemp	Martin Elliff
Phyllis	Maggie Rose
Minerva	Sheila Fitzgerald
Lucy Smith	Suzanne Yeates
Donna Lucia d’Esmeralda	Merian Ganjou
PC Merks	Will Brooks
Bunny Hayes	Carl Smith
Enid Brinkley	Janet Turner
Charles Wylde	Martin Wilcox
Billy Whymper	Andrew Yeates
Cynthia Boyce	Sally Hester
Becky Bartlett	Sarah Pearson
Smith the Butler	Carl Smith
Piano	Carole Baker
Piano	Alex Collinson
Cello	Emma Campbell
Woodwind	Phil Shaw

Creative Team

Role	Name
Director	John Hebden
Musical Director	Carole Baker
Assistant to Director	Melanie Edwards
Stage Manager	Melanie Edwards
Stage Crew	Wesley Henderson Roe
Stage Crew	Bob Hicks
Production Co-ordinator	Carl Smith
Production Co-ordinator	Gavin Morgan
Costumes	Marion McLaren
Set Design	John Hebden
Set Construction	Carl Smith
Lighting	Paul Saban
Props	Terry Parsons
Prompt	Tricia Vandepeer
Box Office	Suzanne Yeates
Front of House	Helen Jenkins

Reviews & Awards

Spreading Happiness

May 24th, 1991

As the second half of its double bill at the Parkshot Studio, Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society last week celebrated the great English musical with a joyful revival of Mister Cinders that also teasingly hinted at our pantomime tradition.

Fresh as the day it was written, with all the original 1927 gags and business lovingly preserved, this was actually the version that transferred to the Fortune Theatre from the King’s Head in 1983. It included the new title song especially written by octogenarian Vivian Ellis, here sung with wistful charm by Janet Simpson as the rich little poor girl Jill and an all-star BROS chorus, a medley that has stayed with me all the week.

Indeed John Hebden’s enchanting production, a winner in every department, will go on singing and dancing in the memories of all those who saw it long after the applause has faded. With a simple three-part revolving set, it was perfectly matched to the tiny stage, except for an overcrowded ballroom scene with a large cast dressed regardless of cost for the 18 th Century Drag.

Not quite a dancer, but a deft mover with a lightsome comedy style, newcomer James Meehan spread a lot of happiness with one of the best and certainly most tuneful performances I’ve seen in the title role, for once making even the Amazon catalogue song not only endurable but, with splendid hand and footwork, worthy of its encore.

There were many scene stealers in this strongly cast production: none more enchanting than Maggie Rose playing Phyllis as a Joyce Grenfell lookalike, and Gavin Morgan in his best ever performance as her semaphoring boyfriend Guy; the two joining Sheila Fitzgeralds Minerva and Andrew Macbeans Lumley in a gladsome Honeymoon for Four.

Just space for a special word for Merian Ganjou as the fiery Donna Lucia; and the ever amusing Bob Salter as Sir George, who has only to step on the stage to raise an anticipatory chuckle of delight.

John Thaxter

Richmond & Twickenham Times