Aladdin

Harleston Players always welcome me with such enthusiasm that I look forward to seeing their latest show, Aladdin, written and devised by Josie Grimble which started as a project in COVID. I wasn’t disappointed with the final result. The theme followed the traditional storyline of the fairy tale Aladdin but had delightful inventive twists on the Disney version with the love story and happy ending.

Jeannie the Jinn of the Lamp (Scarlett Fisher) was an excellent narrator, very passionate and bubbly and The Jinn of the ring (Finn Cutting) also Kareem, the Vizier’s son, portrayed both parts differently and spoke with confidence and clear diction. Aladdin (Gus Krasonis) was a stylish street rat and suited the role perfectly, while the love interest Princess Badia (Beth Spaul) showed true emotions throughout and had a working partnership with Aladdin. Abanazar (Tony Winn) had a characteristic slyness, maybe needed a little more menace and The Sultan (Barry Givens) was a typical father figure with a dry sense of humour. Aladdin’s Mother (Mary Frendo) was a great mum role just like a
mum should be and his brother Alim (Gabriel Allum-Sindall) used the stage area well to convey a silly, bit slow of thought brother. Baker/Fruit seller (Carrie Ann Chapman) created really good cameos and all of these named roles worked well with a very supporting company of guards, servants and hungry children.

The director and writer (Josie Grimble) and the Choreographer (Carrie Ann Chapman) developed the story with a fine attention to detail, especially with the stage in the round set-up and the actors were aware and performed to everyone with style. I particularly enjoyed the market opening of a busy market scene using constant apt movement and the continuity of the end of Act 1/ beginning of Act 2 with the going to buy ice creams / then eating them, a lovely touch.

The scenery, props and furniture were realistic and I thought that the children in the cave were a big part of the action, holding the caskets of jewels. Very clever. The costumes were the right style for the period. They were colourful, vibrant and beautiful.

Everyone had fun, smiled and enjoyed themselves, exuding confidence throughout so please, put this into your singing and believe that you can do it. A little observation from me was the entrance to the cave held up by 2 people. If it had been positioned differently (angles or the actual site), I feel it would have been less conspicuous to the audience.

There were lovely comedy moments throughout and this play was very funny in places. The audience were with you at all times because the play/panto ethos that you created brilliantly brought the traditional cheering and booing. The essence of this fantastic show is the fun, the smiles the total enjoyment of what you are doing and all of this spilled out into the captive audience. Well done I loved every minute of it

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