Aladdin

This was a humdinger of a Pantomime; all that a village family Panto should be, it was slick funny and involved children and adults from the Newton Poppleford community and surrounding area. The scene changing was done so well you didn’t notice until suddenly it was there. The costumes were colourful and pleasing to the eye, everything about this Panto reeked of quality and attention to detail.

The cast did a splendid job with great enthusiasm. Leonie Motler as Aladdin has come on leaps and bounds since I last saw her and has gained in confidence with a singing voice to match and alongside Princess Mandarin (Jenny Cardwell) their singing came to the fore, they made a great couple. Wishee Washee (Stephen Knight) gave his all to this character and rest assured, Wishee Washee was in a safe pair of hands with this versatile and very talented actor. He certainly did not disappoint and, complete with banjo, the audience loved him. Widow Twankey played by Gavin Haines, did not put on a strangulated voice the mistake that many “Dames” do, especially when taking the role for the first time. He played it as a man in women’s clothes and did the role proud. Jane Ledwood as So Shy did well, as did the Emperor (Dave Goldthorpe). There was a nice touch in adding another character, The Grand Wazir (Baz Breadmore) who played it slightly camp and slipped in a few recognisable impressions. Yu Dun Wong (Barrie Papworth) and Hu dun Pong (Tim Alsford) needed to complement each other well, and well they did, and although at times they let their accents drop this only added to the jolly good fun they were. Abanazer the fake uncle to Aladdin played by Christopher Holland was as evil and cunning as they come (needs to watch being type cast!)He was very convincing, with a super singing voice and plenty of light and shade. Genie of the lamp Steve Yarnell camped it up but with great subtlety, that helped shape the character so well. Spirit Claudia(Gillian Coley) along with Spirit Tess(Julie Salmon) gave a great performances as did Dim Sun, Foo Yung, and Mummy, Lord High Executioner and Cave Dancer along with a great Chorus too many to mention but none the less so important to any cast as is back stage and lighting.

If you have John Griswold as MD you know you’re in a safe pair of hands, as you are with a Director Tricia Barclay who not only can direct but has a great and wonderful gift of seeing the overall picture and the imagination to add different touches of her own, that makes it that extra bit special. My heartfelt congratulations on this very fine production.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.