Aladdin

Entering the auditorium of Tyldesley Little Theatre it is festooned with hanging red Chinese lanterns, a lovely touch and setting the scene for the annual pantomime Aladdin.

Directed by Hannah Boardman and Musical Director Martin Taylor with a team of choreographers, Vicky Morris, Sadie Hobson, Viv Monks and Lynn Tyler. Various scenes take us through the story with Set Construction by Eddie Stanley and Liam Stanley with a very impressive magic carpet ending Act One. Costumes, Make-up and Hair all looked good and in keeping with the Dame having suitably funny outfits to wear.

Cameron Rowe playing Widow Twankey must surely run on Duracell batteries - his energy and vavavoom every time he enters the stage is a delight. His opening song Proud Mary ending in his trademark jump into splits: he is able to get the audience on side and with ease looking like he’s having a ball up there on stage – brilliant!

Cathryn Megan Hughes as Aladdin does not disappoint with a delightful voice and cheeky chappie attitude - another actor who brings energy onto the stage and looks to be relishing the role - great work!

Connor Parkinson as Abanazar was suitably evil and managed to interact with the audience to get them NOT onside but against him, with suitable booing, plus a great singing voice – wicked!

Danny Tooby as Ring Slave and Leon Jeffries as Genie playing the ethereals looked the part and helped carry the story along with great costumes to boot. Loved the set-up joke of the Genie’s name ‘You can call me Al’.

Wishee Washee played by Sally Mason helped support the narrative and coax the audience with her inventive microwave ensuring her pings never ponged. Talking of Pong, Ping and Pong played by Ellie Ward and Karen Ward respectively worked well together and had some funny moments together and also with Desert Sunrise (Bill Rogers) and Golden Mountain (Hannah Boardman) acting as the ugly sisters.

The Emperor Pen-Gwinn played by Ian Hunter was suitably confused and brow-beaten by his harridan wife Empress Pen-Gwinn (Kaye Taylor), but supportive of his beautiful Daughter So -Shi (Carly Bozdogan).

Lots of parts in this production and the cast all worked well together including the chorus and all looked to be having fun and enjoying it, the audience loved participating and heckling, with kids up on stage and air guitaring and I am sure they will remember the show for a long time. With cast and backstage crew working so hard to produce this, it’s easy to forget the time and effort people put in to present a show like this.

 Thank you for inviting me and making my guest and I feel so welcome

 

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