QUESTION: What are the ingredients for a tasty recipe for a 21st century version of Cinderella?

Answer: Two portions of Ugly Sisters, reincarnated as broker's men, Reg and Ron Knuckle (played by the on-form duo of Dan Blenkharn and Paul Nelson complete with lager-lout mentality, boxer shorts and a penchant for bad wigs and dresses).

Add Cinderella's household, ruled by an impoverished Baroness Hardup (Nigel Crook, a wickedly funny cross between Lily Savage and Ru Paul) in search of fame, fortune and her long lost daughters.

Season with dollops of traditional entertainment - live music, songs and dance, and sprinkle with visual and verbal gags (Vivienne Rees on dotty form as Lettuce Spray).

Simmer gently until boiling with laughter, and serve on a dreary winter's evening for maximum pleasure.

Where do you find the ingredients?

In the talented case of the Grasmere Players' winter production.

Written and directed by Annie Miller, traditional elements of panto admirably kept alive by the charming Cinderella (Rosie Thomas) and large supporting cast, impressively straight-faced against the antics of less conventional characters.

From a very funny parody of the Parky Show, and vastly entertaining Ball scene with hilarious new take on the clock at midnight, to sly local references in song and dialogue (The Westmorphalian Theatre Critic portrait duly noted!) the players cooked up a tasty treat.