Perhaps the best known and most loved pantomime. Baron Hardup's daughter Cinderella is subjected to what would nowadays be termed domestic abuse by her ghastly stepmother and even ghastlier stepsisters. The Baron's valet, Buttons, is madly in love with Cinders but her heart is captured by Prince Charming. With the help of her fairy Godmother, Cinderella goes to the Ball at the Perfect Palace - but the evil ghost Vinegar Vera, who can't stand the idea of anything having a happy ending, has other plans...

This show only needs three main sets. Easy small parts for younger children are also included.

Cast 

Cinderella
Lord Reginald Hardup, 13th Baron Deepindett
Lady Expectora Hardup, 14th Baroness Deepindett
The Hon. Miss Lavinia Hardup, ugly daughter of the Baroness
The Hon. Miss Lucretia Hardup, even uglier daughter of the Baroness
Buttons, manservant to the Baron
HRH Prince Charming, the Prince Regent of Toyland
Captain Dandini, Equerry to the Prince
Vinegar Vera, an evil ghost thing
Fairy Godmother
Mr Pott, the bailiff
Mr Kettle, his assistant
Polly, Dolly and Molly, village girls
Major Domo,Villagers, courtiers etc

Summary of scenes

Act one.

Scene one. The village of Deepindett, outside Hardup Hall
Scene two. The same, later that afternoon.
Scene three. The kitchen of Hardup Hall.

Act two.

Scene one. The ballroom of the Perfect Palace.
Scene two. The same, later that evening.
Scene three. A lane near the Perfect Palace
Scene four. The kitchen of Hardup Hall

Sample scene(Enter Lavinia and Lucretia sl, in hunting outfits) 

LAVINIA Coming mumsie! I’m so sorry we’re late. My sister was attempting to ride side saddle, and the horse keeled over. 

LUCRETIA Huh! At least I knew what I was doing. When the master of the hounds blew his horn, SHE asked him where the rest of the band was!

BARONESS Girls, girls, please! I have to present you to someone very special. His Royal Highness Prince Charming!

LAVINIA (rushing at Dandini) Oh, delighted to meet you, your Royalness, oh, doesn’t he look regal and royal! (she grabs him) I insist on the first dance with you tonight! You haven’t lived until you’ve done the Gay Gordons with me!

PRINCE (to Dandini) Told you it would work! 

DANDINI Er, I’m not sure this was quite what I had in mind!

LUCRETIA Hands off you! I saw him first!

PRINCE My dear lady, there is no need to fight over the Prince. What say you if I have the first dance with you?

LUCRETIA (disdainfully) And who are you?

PRINCE (annoyed) Why, I’m Pr..(correcting himself) My name is Captain Dandini.

LUCRETIA Ooh, a captain! Where’s your ship then? I’m sure I shall look just like Kate Winslet on it. (Stands with arms outstretched and hums the theme from ‘Titanic’)

LAVINIA Yes, if you were on the Titanic, they’d’ve used you to plug up the hole.

LUCRETIA Why you…

PRINCE I don’t have a ship. I am a captain of horse. 

LUCRETIA A captain of horse! Well you won’t sail very far on that! Huh. I’ll stick to royalty thanks (grabbing Dandini) Come on gorgeous. Have the first dance with me instead. We’ll have such fun with ‘strip the willow.’

DANDINI er…as long as that’s all you strip. Dandini, I think this has gone on long enough, er, I mean, we must away to the castle. 

PRINCE (panicked) Very true sir! I feel like a change of clothes! (they rush off sl)

To read on, order the full script!