Aladdin

Pantomime season for District 4 continues with a trip to Spennymoor Stage and Song who transported us to the magical land of Peking with their wonderful production of "Aladdin." As always, the friendliest and hardest working theatre group delivered an evening filled with laughter, music, and sheer entertainment, a testament to their dedication and talent.

The set design for "Aladdin" was excellent designed and made by Eric Hickson. The vibrant and colourful backdrops immersed the audience in the pantomime world. The use of effective lighting effectively highlighted key moments and emotions, adding depth to the visual experience, and I loved the gobo use at the start.

The costumes were a feast for the eyes, brimming with colour and detail and director Liam Etherington made sure the comedy moments were a plenty with just the right level of naughtiness for panto!

The cast was led by Heather Whitfield as Aladdin, whose charismatic performance and strong vocal abilities captured the audience's hearts. Jayne Etherington as Princess Mandarin was beautiful, bringing grace and strength to her role.

Robyn Watson, portraying the Genie of the Lamp, was a standout with their boundless energy and hilarity. Their exuberance and dynamic presence on stage ensured that every scene they were in was a highlight. The versatile Ian Patterson delivered a suitably menacing performance as the evil sorcerer Abanazar, his voice and commanding presence adding to the character’s malevolence with brilliant audience interaction and hilarity.

The Dame, Widow Twankey was played by David Galloway who had just the right level of audience interaction, hilarity and naughtiness and their costumes were a feat to behold with head-dresses getting bigger each time they appeared.  Great dancing David you played brilliantly.  Director Liam Etherington played Wishee Washee with his usual boundless energy and had the audience in the palm of his hand.

The comedic duo of Sara Holiday and Hannah Crosby as the police, Yu-Dun-Wong and Yu-Dun-Pong brought consistent laughter with their slapstick antics (absolutely soaking me!) and Hannah’s facial expressions needs show of their own!  Eve Angstmann played the companion of the Princess, So-Shy and the fabulous Ann-Marie Clayton played the good energy for the panto balance, the Spirit of the Ring, and sang and spoke clearly.  I was also thrilled to see Wendy Hindmarch on stage playing brilliantly the Empress, though I’m sure she tells me it’s her last one every time I see her perform!

The large adult and youth ensemble, comprising dancers and townsfolk, added vibrancy and dynamism to the larger scenes, particularly in the bigger dance numbers.  All were enthusiastic with big smiles and bundles of energy.

The musical direction by Jill Jackson was excellent, with a live orchestra delivering a performance that supported the cast beautifully. The choice of songs, a blend of familiar favourites and classics, was well-balanced and kept the audience engaged throughout.

Choreography Ann-Marie Clayton and Stacey Thompson was energetic and imaginative, with each number enhancing the story's progression. The ensemble dance routines were polished and lively, adding to the overall spectacle with lovely finish from the numbers.

The audience's reaction on the night I attended was overwhelmingly positive. Laughter and applause were abundant, and it was clear that both children and adults were thoroughly enjoying the performance. The interactive elements, a staple of any good pantomime, were particularly well-received, with the audience eagerly participating in the "he's behind you" and "oh no he isn't" moments.

Spennymoor Stage and Song's production of "Aladdin" was a triumph, showcasing the incredible talent and hard work of everyone involved. It was a night of entertainment that brought joy to all who attended, leaving them with smiles on their faces and a catchy tune in their hearts. Kudos to the entire cast and crew for delivering such a memorable and magical evening.

It was a perfect example of the magic that community theatre can create, leaving audiences enchanted and eagerly anticipating the next show from this talented group (and more cake and coffee from Nana Margaret of course)

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