THE year 2004 is a celebration of 100 years of pantomime in Yeadon. What a record that must be!

Tradition is well maintained this week with a good show.

Bright, colourful and entertaining with an excellent cast, chorus and dancers and the Sunbeams are, as always delightful and almost steal the show.

It was so good to see lovely high kicking senior dancers again.

Their kick routine was such a highlight.

Music was varied and the band always with the singers..

Singing throughout was excellent, almost lifting the roof.

At times the stage looked brilliant and hard work had been put in to all the costumes made by Margaret Beck and her team.

The sets looked good and gave a real panto feel.

Cinderella's coach was beautiful - but it is a pity more wasn't made of it.

Angela Billington was a sweet Cinderella but had very little to do.

Samantha Ball, as Prince Charming, and Sharon Wallace as Dandini complemented each other, Samantha playing her first principal boy role with relish.

It did bother me, though, that they had no hats.

Caroline Cross was a nasty Baroness Hardup and Bruce Sturrock a suitable timid Baron.

Garry Holmes and Les Appleyard as the Ugly Sisters impressed the audience with their antics and joining in the fun were Peter Long and Martin Holmes as Gawd and Bennett.

This was a good idea and they had some good moments with some of the funniest dialogue.

It was great to see Ian White back in panto as Buttons.

He seemed a bit nervous at first but soon settled and gave his usual comic performance.

Rounding off the cast was that panto treasure Arthur Lawson as King Charles, Doreen Seaman as Queen Camilla and pretty Fairy Godmother Pat Pool.

I have to mention that the show was far too long on Friday, it was almost 10.30pm before it finished.

Anyone who is old enough to remember Aunt Emma (Flesher), a real stalwart of the Charities, would know that fireworks would be flying if the audience were not out of their seats by 9.55pm at the latest.

Also it was disappointing that the story of Cinderella seemed to take a back seat to comedy situations.

Cinderella, more than any of the other pantos, is a magical, gossomer, fairytale and I felt that this was not made enough of.

However, all the tradition that is Yeadon panto is here this week and audiences really will love it.

l Yeadon Charities Association's Cinderella runs until Saturday at Yeadon Town Hall. Tickets are £7 adults, £5 children and OAPs.

Check availability by calling Winnie Brown on (01943) 874704.