1001 Arabian Nights (and a Matinee)

A recipe for a traditional pantomime is I believe a mixture of fun, humour, spontaneity, garish costumes and audience participation. These ingredients were all present and combined to produce a most entertaining production.

In the market place  the dashing young Ali Barber (Yiorgis Perris) confesses his love for the most attractive Princess Jasmina (Sarah Murphy). She must marry before her 21st birthday otherwise the wicked Vizier (Cameron Aitchison), who received lots of boos and hisses, will take control of the city. Along with his somewhat simple brother Sing-Bad (Huw Thomas) and a friend Bob (Chloe Crawford), who is in fact Jasmine’s sister Princess Bobastasia in disguise, they plot to set off through the desert and arrive just in time to make sure that all’s well that ends well. Their mother the bombastic Dame Barber (Keith Bowden) is an excellent pantomime Dame and fronted the comedy. All of these main characters did very well indeed appearing relaxed and confident  bringing out the humour of the script.

The young cast of handmaidens who sang particularly well, villagers, guards and skeletons all played their part enthusiastically and were obviously having great fun. I understand that some of the youngsters chose their own songs and others assisted the choreographer so that the young people not only perform but are given the opportunity to assist with the production.

Of course no panto is complete without audience involvement and the appropriate responses were there in abundance. A community sing along to a very cleverly put together Ali Bali Be had everyone jumping up and down. Some glitzy costumes, particularly the Dame’s and the Genie’s all added colour to a neatly constructed set. David Ritchie’s keyboard accompaniment also enhanced and supported the well sung and choreographed musical numbers.

This was light hearted thoroughly entertaining evening which was enjoyed by all on stage and by a most responsive audience. I was also priviliged to present several youth awards.

Well done Forth Dimensions. You certainly got me into the spirit of Christmas.

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