Aladdin

I was sorry that other engagements precluded me from attending Nailsea Musicals Pantomime other than on the first night. I understood there had been difficulties with the technical and dress rehearsals the previous day when things hadn’t gone to plan. This left a 1st night cast under rehearsed with many suffering from nerves and stress.

This Aladdin script from author Nigel Holmes was not one of the better scripts I have seen and although good attempts to update and localise the dialogue had been introduced, it was lacking in form and shape which did not allow the principals to form rounded characters and sound relationships with other cast members.  

Maybe base jokes with repeated references to ‘wee wee’ appeal generally to children and possibly I was never one of those children who delighted in references to bodily functions, this is perhaps my loss and I’m sorry that I could not find it funny.  But the atypical first night audience didn’t seem to be very amused either and the cast found themselves with an uphill battle to engage the small and lacklustre audience. Some of the interaction with the audience was at the wrong time and of the wrong sort, leaving some of the cast at a loss as to how to respond.

I am quite certain subsequent performances  enthralled many children and their families after all who can resist an amusing ‘Wishee Washee’, a pair of star crossed lovers the ‘Genie of the Ring’ and the ‘Genie of the Lamp’ who both put talented effort into their roles, a strong and controlled baddy ‘Abanazer’ and a  good ‘Aladdin’ who impressed with her interpretation of ‘Defying Gravity’ whilst sitting on the ‘flying carpet’. (This had ‘flown’ in from the back of the theatre!) Add colourful costumes and special effects and an amazing pianist/accompanist... treasure him, he was excellent!   

Well done Nailsea Musicals for introducing a quite inexperienced cast to the delights of pantomime with its many and varied elements. As a production, pantomime is never an easy option ‘Oh yes it is’ - ‘Oh no it isn’t’. Thank you for inviting me and I wish you well for your next production.

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