Aladdin

NODA owns the intellectual Property Rights to the content of all show reports written by NODA Councillors, Reps and Assistant Reps.Most village halls have very limited facilities and Little Downham’s are no different.  However set designers Becky Smith and Carol Hebbard go to great efforts to create colourful staging to make the most of the facilities they have.  Lots of glitter and colour augmented by very good and well fitted costumes even for the tiniest of cast members. I particularly envied the Princess’ beautiful costume. The lighting design (JR Light & Sound) was good although I never particularly enjoy flashing lights. Sound was well balanced and the sound effects faultlessly cued.  Props carried on the good and colourful scheme.

Mark AJ Checkley created the backing tracks and sound effects for the show and it was obvious that the whole cast were confident with both the music and the lyrics which were, in the main, parodies to popular songs again written by the author. This confidence was carried through to Becky Smith’s choreography which was well thought out and enhanced by the well synchronised movement.

Beverley Dean’s coaching had obviously helped some members of the cast. Given the ages and lack of experience of many on stage there was good projection from 99% of the cast with excellent delivery of comic lines. Everyone with dialogue did well.  Good strong performances came from Eva Proctor as Aladdin and Grace Butcher as Princess Bonneville.  Brooke Ashton was excellent as Widow Tamsin Twankey and worked the audience well. Evie Bennett and Macey Arnold as Wishee and Washee respectively gave good support to their “mum”.  Well done to Shane Gray as The Sultan. Shane has been with Youth Acts UP for a few years and it is good to see how his confidence and stagecraft has grown in that time.  Super performance from Tiffany Fuggle menacing as Lord Abanazar.  Emma Thornton was very good as The Grand Vizier setting up a coup to unseat the Sultan with Colonels Ping and Pong Emily Ashton and Emma Dewsbury.  Lovely double act from Chloe Hind as Constable Sergeant and Bryony Ashton as Sergeant Constable.  Of course being Aladdin we had two genies. Jessica Smith as Beatrix the Brilliant the Genie of the Lamp and Chloe Lee as Chloe the Clueless Genie of the Ring. Good support came from the Princess’ handmaidens Georgia Dewsbury as Beatrice (Bea), Sadie-Grace Martin as Eugene and Eve Morris as Victoria. Adding extra volume and enthusiasm were the Villagers: Noah Weavers, Poppie Duffield, Frida White, Rosalie Russell, Emma Demass, Alex Fickling, Ella Waters, Esme Hind, Esme Stanborough and Layla Harrison. 

Congratulations Director, Producer and all involved on the production team.  Any amateur show doesn’t happen without a lot of input from a good number of people and it is obvious from the production team list that many of those people are parents or family members of the children involved in the show including, of course, Chaperones and front of house helpers. This was a lovely bright and glittery show with lots of enthusiasm and commitment from the cast. A very enjoyable afternoon indeed.  Thank you for inviting me along. 

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