Malton pantomime's comedy turn, Mark Poole, takes to the stage tonight in Cinderella despite breaking a finger in a climbing accident in the Lake District.

School teacher Mark fell on rocks near Keswick but, when asked if the injury would affect his role as bitchy Ugly Sister Grizelda, he waved his left hand - now in a splint - and joked: "I doubt it. It might even enhance my performance!"

Fellow Ugly Sister Mona, alias seasoned comic Ian Goring, is said to be considering sporting a matching splint.

With or without bandages, the John Coates production features a comedy line-up "second to none on the local amateur circuit", according to Tom Todd, stalwart publicist for the Malton and Norton Amateur Operatic Society.

"Mark Poole, our rib-tickling Benny Hill look-alike, will be slipping into a dress for the first time in this show after playing all the daft panto principal parts and keeping local audiences in stitches for nine years," he says.

"Mark made his society debut in 1992 as Bacchus in Orpheus In The Underworld and didn't speak a word but still brought the house down. He did the same last year in Aladdin when he literally went through the mangle as an elastic Wishee Washee."

Teenager Scott Garnham, star of last October's Half A Sixpence, is equally at home in comedy roles, this time playing the loveable Buttons. He is teamed up with Malton's comedy newcomer Mark Boler, who spent 12 years with Sheffield amateurs and is now making his second appearance in Malton, cast as the spineless but good-natured Baron Hardup.

Norton performers Laurie Scarth and Sarah Wade star as Cinderella and Prince Charming. Laurie was principal boy in last year's panto and both she and Sarah played leads in Half A Sixpence.

The cast of more than 40 includes newcomer Lisa-Marie Wade as the dashing Dandini and regular performer Martin Lettin as a comically sombre Court Chamberlain. Former Malton principal boy Barbara Kinghorn shapes the action as the Fairy Godmother and dancers from the Kirkham Henry Performing Arts Centre in Malton lend grace.

To end on a sad note, Cinderella could be the final curtain call for producer John Coates after 37 years.

"Rumour has it that this year's panto will be the last by our prolific and most experienced show producer," says Tom. "But if it's as good as the nearly 20 pantos and ten musicals which John has produced since joining the society in 1965, then Cinderella will be a knock-out."

Malton and Norton Amateur Operatic Society's Cinderella runs from tonight until January 26, except Sunday, in the Malton Milton Rooms at 7.15 pm, plus 2.15pm tomorrow and next Saturday. Tickets: £6, £5, at Jack-in-a-Box in Malton, tel 01653 693497.

Updated: 09:40 Friday, January 18, 2002