Aladdin

This year Stagedoor Productions perform Aladdin written and directed by Chris Anderton.

With colourful backdrops for various scenes, we were not to be disappointed with the customary Stagedoor added glitter giving a magical feel. The cave was striking and reminded me of Paul Gaugin-esque large impressionist painting – amazing! Not happy to stop there we then had an actual flying carpet much to the amazement of the audience. Set Design Dennis Boulderstone. Set Construction Andrew Parmar, Dennis Boulderstone, Ben Stanier and Lewis Parmar. Various props were then used to help tell the story, including a lavish red velvet chair edged in gold. Props Charlotte Parmar, who was also Stage Manager.

Costume all looked fitting and also included some glitter. From the beautiful Slave of the Ring in purple to Sho Shy and the Princes Jasmine outfits. The chorus also looking great in their matching outfits. The shout must go to the outfits the Dame wore - all thirteen of them, yes! All those costume changes in one show. With an outfit looking like a launderette complete with yellow marigolds and J cloth hanging off the head-wear. One outfit was all pink and an ode to Barbie, another like a circus and another animal print to name a few. One headdress featured a tall pagoda and another a fish bowl complete with fish. Seriously I take my hat off to you for the imagination and colour explosion. Costume department Lynne Boulderstone, Debs Lyons and Sharon Harper. Lighting and Sound all helped create the magic of pantomime. Sound and Lighting Joanna Sweet and Nathan Emmison.

Choreography was by Teresa Harper and Sam Young, assisted by Nicola Shallicker. Moving the cast around the stage, Adult, Senior and Junior chorus all had a chance to shine. Keep the tradition of pantomime with a little bit of modern thrown in with The Best of Times to Katy Perrys Dark Horse. With tap thrown in too. Lovely.

As I said before Chris Anderton writes the pantomime and also directs with the gags a-plenty involving a shopping trolley, cream pie, packages and The Twelve Days of Christmas complete with paraphernalia. Also putting a cast member on stage to sing while the rest of the cast and crew do everything they can to disrupt the song. It was chaos, water pistols, someone with a vacuum cleaner, someone with sweets (I got one) someone with biscuits (I got one) all on the pretence of looking for a 50 pence piece. The chaos was great and good to get stage staff involved. Chris even managed to get TikTok trend 6-7 in which delighted the kids.

The Ensemble worked well and supported the cast throughout the show. Very smiley and looked to be having fun. Elaine Session played the stern Empress of China. The incompetent policemen were Adam Manning playing PC Po and Aimee Gaskell as PC King. Slave of the Ring was Teresa Harper again in fine voice.

Wicked Abanazar was played by Ben Stanier who soaked up the boos and wore some pretty dapper threads, cool shoes Ben. Genie of the Ring was Lewis Parmar adding some energy to the proceedings. Princess Jasmine played by Kirsty Heaton working well with Dennis Bouldetsone who was in the titular role of Aladdin, Dennis being the one who actually gets to fly. Would love to know how it was done but then I don’t want to spoil the magic of the spectacle. Amy Derbyshire played So Shy perfectly cast and great energy on stage. Graham Cohen’s hyperactive Wishee Washee had a lovely connection with the audience. You always feel safe watching Graham in these roles working well with his partner in crime Philip Morris. Philip takes on the role of Widow Twankey with the many costume changes it must be like a work out. Philip you excelled yourself this year and it’s sad you are hanging up your large pants. Philip while creating the Dame persona had something for everyone in the audience. Great work.

Thank you so much to Stagedoor Theatre Productions for the invite and hospitality from my guest Rachel and I. It’s lovely that all your profits go to helping ill and disadvantaged children in Bolton. And as I write this you will be handing out selection boxes to the children in Bolton. The children in the audience certainly enjoyed themselves the afternoon I was there as did the adults.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

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