Aladdin

This version of Aladdin written by Geoff Baker, one of your own members, opened with a riot of colour – a chorus of well-dressed coolies making a good sound and the whole evening accompanied in excellent fashion by Pat White and her band of musicians.  The costumes throughout were beautiful to behold and they and the colourful sets gave the ideal impression of what was going on in Old Peking.

All the characters were well cast, whether bad or good!  Douglas Dalziel is the ultimate Dame and his Widow Twankey was all that could be desired.  Sarah Baker and Maylene Mayhew were a charming pairing as Aladdin and Princess Isay and Marc Barden as Wishee Washee was full of fun.  The evil Abanazar was well portrayed by Mark Canelle, having to contend with the Slave of the Ring and the Genie who were intent on bringing the whole thing to a happy ending.  Romilly Huxley and Andy Bennett played these parts with panache.  Russell Buckingham gave good value as a bumbling old Emperor.

The other supporting parts:  -Ping and –Pong, -Da-Ling and So-So played by Jess Hack, Zara Mae-Belcher, Carol Reed and Izzy & Amy Shepard added to the story in style.  I was particularly impressed by Izzy & Amy’s ability to speak together as one person in excellent fashion.  The ensemble also added much to the evening – even the Zombies who all really looked undead, together with Keith Smith as the Old Mystic!

The delightful choreography was arranged by Amy & Sarah Baker and Mo Munday and danced – equally delightfully -  by Mo Munday, Tracey Felstead and Freya Goldsmith. The audience should also be mentioned as what was happening on stage made them boo & hiss and cheer in all the right places!

Many thanks to all involved whether in writing, directing, stage management, set design, dealing with all the effects and all the other myriad tasks that have to be done backstage and front of house for bringing another dose of winter cheer to Stone Cross.

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