Aladdin

Aladdin is among the most popular of pantomimes. The rags to riches tale, filled with baddies, wishes, lamps, genies, magic and princesses  is probably second only to Cinderella in the popularity stakes. Opening in Abanazer`s Lair (via the centre aisle) , Abanazer creates his Slave of the Ring, who reveals that in far off China, a boy named Aladdin can provide the Evil Magician with the magic lamp, thus making him the most powerful magician in the world. We are then transported through various places- Pekin`s Imperial Gardens, The Cave of Jewels, The  Imperial Palace in China….. you get the idea- a plethora of Imperial places, where we meet Aladdin and a few other characters along the way, including a rather intelligent duck….. not a Goose- that`s another story altogether!

Ralph Sullivan played the Magician, Abanazar with conviction- eking out as many boos and hisses as he could from the audience- I`m assuming that on the night I was there, other local societies were in the audience, due to references, and for once, there were more Bass/ Baritone boos coming from the audience than children`s boos.

Carl Lis and Laraine Sullivan took on the roles of Widow Twankey and Wishee Washee- Aladdin`s mother and brother, leading the comedy and audience participation with great enthusiasm, working the highly engaged audience well, as did Beth Lowe as Suzie Pong.

Aladdin and Princess Jasmine (Gill Denby and Emily Coates) worked well together. This panto has a lot more audience interaction between the “Princess” role and the audience than most others I`ve seen, Emily made the most of it with a definite nod to Blackadder`s Queenie characterisation in some parts.

The blundering duo of Jed Cartledge and Tracy Joel as the knockabout policemen, Chop-chop and Na-na. These were a favourite among the children, keeping everyone entertained with their antics.

Another children`s favourite (and one of mine, if truth be told)  was Quackers, Wishee Washee`s pet duck. Played by Melanie Edgar and whilst not having many lines to learn, Melanie`s Quackers had so much facial expression and inflection in her lines, the audience in no doubt of how Quackers was feeling.

The Immortals- the Slave of the Ring and the Genie of the Lamp, Rachel Weller and Andy Mitton, are instrumental in the storytelling and played their roles with aplomb.

Grand Vizier and Empress Tutti Frutti were capably played by Dave Sharrod  and Wendy Moorhouse, throwing many a reference to people they knew in the audience.

There were many other minor roles, too many to mention who all played their parts well.

Chorus numbers were well presented and executed, working to backing tracks and a percussionist, and were all attentive to what was happening when onstage.

The staging was quite simple, flats and cloths, with a few props for good measure, only using larger set props where necessary for set pieces. I must say the stage cloths and flats were excellent- designed and painted locally by Maureen Tomlinson, Dorothy Butters and Jen McKay. Always nice to see companies putting the extra effort in, to make it exactly how they want it. The scene in the Cave Of Jewels was one of the best I`ve seen using  fluorescent props.

Everything worked well- a lot of time must have been put in to achieve the results they had. I think that on occasions like this, the lack of an orchestra/lights enhance the effects, as there is no light seepage creating any shadows.

Choreography by Ellie Brown, was effective, allowing the dancers to express themselves in the Egyptian number.

Music/sound was provided by backing track and Percussionist, with an acknowledgement to Wendy Moorhouse as Singing Coordinator.

Director Liz Cartmell had obviously put in a lot of work with this pantomime, and it paid off- everybody looked as they had enjoyed themselves- audience and cast alike.

Thank you, Ingleton Theatre Group, for your invitation and hospitality.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.