Aladdin

I’m a sucker for pantomime!  I love the Boo-Hiss, He’s Behind You, Oh No He Isn’t, the costumes and make up, thigh slapping, corny jokes, audience participation. The Nomads’ production of Aladdin had it all and didn’t disappoint.  This was a joyful and colourful production which moved along at a good pace and had all the ingredients of traditional pantomime.  The musical numbers were adaptations of recognisable modern pop songs which made it attractive to the younger generation and suited the young and talented chorus.

Ben Crocker’s pantomime scripts are always very funny and traditional and he allows them to be freely adapted for their audiences.  Nomads made full use of this, referring throughout to local towns and villages and the surrounding areas, prompting groans and laughs in equal measure from the audience. 

The projected scenes on to backdrops were superb – colourful and clear and with clever use of technology.  Aladdin’s palace emerged and then disappeared at the touch of a button. His journey on the magic carpet flying through the sky before landing on the stage was also cleverly suggested.  Lighting was appropriate all the way through.  The musical accompaniment was pitched just right and didn’t overpower the solo singing or the chorus.  Costumes were wonderfully colourful, the two Genies in contrasting bright hues, Widow Twankey in a selection of outrageous frocks and wigs and Abanazar suitably attired in sinister black.  His abundant beard in disguise was spectacular.  The chorus appeared in a variety of colourful and sparkly outfits appropriate to each scene.

The small audience on the opening night made up for their lack of numbers by joining in enthusiastically from the start, from the moment Abanazar entered through the audience at the back, inviting the Boos he deserved as the baddie.  I would describe Graham Botterill, who played Abanazar, as a ‘benevolent’ baddie with a sinister side, who I thought was quite endearing and not really cut out to be truly wicked.

As well as the time-honoured main characters, the chorus was relatively small and quite young – apart from two notable exceptions who kept up valiantly with the team – and proved themselves to be very versatile, performing different dance routines from tap to points with skill and confidence – Chinese citizens, cave spirits, palace attendant and guards.  The Egyptian dance routine in Abanazar’s palace was very amusing.  Well done to Choreographer Samantha Potten, who doubled as a Director and also as a member of the chorus, for bringing out the best in them.  Helen Teasdale (Aladdin) and Ella Kay (Princess Jasmine) were a delightful combination with strong singing voices.  In fact the singing throughout was tuneful and strong with not a weak note.  It would be unfair to single out anyone from the cast as they all performed their parts convincingly but for me, Millie Jane Franks as Wishee Washee deserves a special mention.  She was funny, enthusiastic and full of bounce, bringing humour and energy with her every time she burst on to the stage.

Full marks to co-Director Michael Ayres who also played the part of Widow Twankey.  To direct a pantomime and take on a central role at the same time is no mean feat.  He and Samantha Potten were a strong team.  Congratulations to them both for working so well together and achieving a most enjoyable and successful show.

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