CINDERELLA meets Shakespeare in the very atmospheric setting of Williamson Park – that's how I would describe my experience of this year's Dukes outdoor production.

'Beauty and the Beast' sees a very powerful performance from James Daniel Wilson as the Beast in a play that is at times funny, at others touching, and sometimes sinister.

Also deserving praise are 'The Ugly Sisters' Ruby (Lisa Howard) and Grace (Amy Rhiannon Worth) whose antics are hilarious. But to be honest, all the actors gave equally good performances.

Grace reminded me of a bleach-blonde Amy Winehouse, complete with the attitude.

The atmosphere was good-natured early on as the characters took the mickey out of the audience to warm us up (and in that weather, we certainly needed it!) and the play contains some fun audience-
participation moments.

One came at the end of the first scene as members of the public were roped in to pull carts containing Ruby and Grace to the next scene in front of the Ashton Memorial.

Then, actors actually gave out some biscuits to the audience! But when The Beast makes his first appearance, deep down in the woods, the mood changes completely to one of tension.

It's also a very physical play. At times, leaping actors had to negotiate the puddles in the woods, meaning the front row
audience risked getting splashed!

As Beast begins to win the heart of Beauty (Stephanie Greer) love blossoms and we get the expected 'happy ever after' ending with Grace and Ruby receiving their come-uppance.

The audience reacted with a very warm and well deserved round of applause at the end.

Beauty and The Beast continues at Williamson Park until Saturday, August 9.