ALADDIN

Who needs a professional “Panto” in town when STARS are performing? Aladdin, headed by Adrian Frank (Producer/Director) his daughter Catherine (Assistant Director and Choreographer) and Jonathan Clamp (Musical Director), what a team. Congratulations you surpassed last year’s performance, you get better and better. Some of the audience will never know the hours you give for free, from choosing a script to the end product. I found the script snappy and full of good one line jokes we had to pay attention or miss out!!!

The musicians gave good support to a well rehearsed chorus, mainly of youngsters. The wardrobe department costumed a cast of 28, there was glitter and colour everywhere a sterling job, not to mention your beautiful Chinese dragon. The lighting and sound department worked hard with plenty of flashes and bangs this all led to a magical evening, dare I say perfect.

The leading role of Aladdin was played by Samantha Wright, great solid performance and she rocked those musical numbers. Aladdin’s love interest the Princess Mandarin (Sophie Turver) presented the gentle shy young girl who had not experienced life outside the Palace so well no wonder Aladdin fell in love.

Abanazar (Danny Klein) gathered plenty of Boos as he showed us his evil side wanting to trap Aladdin, but he was outsmarted by the Spirits of the ring and the Genie of the lamp. Debbie Bowman and Scarlett Springhall were the Spirits, little Scarlett stole our hearts, she has great potential and I hope to see more of her talent in the future. The Genie of the lamp (Iain Pearson) bounded onto the stage and gave us the wow factor, great stage presence.

The story is set around Widow Twankey’s laundry which in this version also included a take away. The widow was played by Alan Anderson, the Dame is to be loved by everyone and we did love her banter and energy. She was aided and abetted by Wishee Woshee (Joshua Ashton) who last year I saw as the Prince, so a very different role here. It’s good to try different ideas I can see you enjoy the comic role well done.

Other comic roles were taken by Melany McNiff and Carol Keen, playing the Chinese Police, girls you smashed it, how you kept up the accent all night without laughing i will never know, but you gave us plenty of laughes.

The Emperor of Japan (Jeff Surma) gave a confident performance, as did So Shy the Princesses maid (Rebecka Jowett) who also worked in the Take Away  so had a duel role.

Thank you for your hospitality and an entertaining evening, I came home with aching sides from laughing so much.

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