Aladdin

Littleport Players this year transferred from the small stage of Littleport Village Hall to the large space of the Littleport and East Cambs Academy.  Both venues have their own challenges but nothing much deters the spirit of those who make up Littleport Players and, as one might expect, the challenge of the new venue was taken up with a will.  

The larger space offered the opportunity to create two levels and this was well used throughout.  The lighting too was used to good effect and there were some great sound effects also.  Pyrotechnics were not used instead replaced by sound effects which worked very well.  The scenery was mainly made up of coloured drapes which served to identify all areas.  My only comment was that I felt it would have been better to have had Widow Twankey’s “Wash and Nosh” on a moveable stage truck to avoid the distraction of it being on stage the whole time. Particularly in the palace and cave scenes.  Sheila Goodall’s costumes were lovely and she had been at it creating more large and beautiful puppets, including a spectacular Chinese dragon. 

The secret to a successful panto is pace and attack and this production had plenty of that.

Jack Barry as Abanazar revelled in his evilness and got things off to a good start planning his evil plans helped by Tim Frost as the Genie of the Ring who did well whilst concentrating hard on his rhyming dialogue transporting us effortlessly from Egypt to old Peking in search of Aladdin.  

There is nothing like a Dame and Jack Byng made a good Widow Twankey working well with Ethan Nelson as Wishee Washee. Maybe quicker cue pick-up in the laundry scenes would have made the already funny scene funnier but it worked a treat nevertheless.  Loved the Mini-Wishee, well done Dennyson Double.  Chloe Shackleton did some good work as Princess Mandarin (what an odd name for a pretty girl!) and Erin Malkin was a superb So-Shy.  Sue Caller gave a lovely superior characterisation as the Empress and Megan Bidecant made a beautiful Genie of the Lamp.  

I loved Lisa Brown who just shone in the title role.  A bravura performance enhanced by a marvellous voice.

Now - a challenge - show me a comedy duo anywhere on the panto circuit better than Becky Green and Chelsea Booth. I thought their Ugly Sisters were priceless but Yu-Dun-Wong and Yu-Dun-Pong were fabulous.  They had the audience rocking with laughter at every entrance.  Their work-rate is exceptional and they never cease to amaze me.  Congratulations Becky and Chelsea I take my hypothetical hat off to you.

As with all pantomimes the Chorus always work the hardest and this Aladdin chorus was no exception.  Everyone was in good voice and all of them, even the very youngest, knew all the songs and all executed some great Nikki Dyer choreography expertly.  

MD Mark A J Checkley did a great job, not just in rehearsal but throughout.  The music by the Aladdin Band (Mark himself, Colin Braysher and Peter Theobald) never once overpowered the voices and sound was at a comfortable level. 

My sincere congratulations to Director Karen Booth for a tidy piece of direction, and a family pantomime that was great fun from start to finish.

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