Aladdin

I always look forward to visiting The Fullarton Theatre in Castle Douglas and this year was no exception. The Company was performing their own version of Aladdin written by Allan and Janet Scott. This couple have for the last few years written all of the productions performed by the Company and every one of them has been an exceptional success and this production lived up to its reputation.

Despite a technical hitch on the evening I attended, the show was excellent, and the issue with a projector did not detract from the performance. It was obvious by the audience reactions and involvement that the show was well received.

The sets this company use are all home built and so simple that scene changes are hardly noticed, as was the case here. Lighting and sound production was in the capable hands of Allan Scott ably assisted by Jenny Cunningham.

This is a small company and the cast of 14, by their interaction with each other and the audience made it look as though there were more than them on stage.

The story is the tried and tested formula with a few “differences” along the way.

We first meet Nancy Twankie (Jason Reekie) who runs the local laundry ably assisted by her “son” Wishee Washee (Joyce Reekie) and the ner do well son Aladdin (Stephanie Drummond). Nancy and Wishee do all of the work as Aladdin has his head in the clouds thinking about the Princess Jasmine (Seren Campbell) who he has fallen in love with. She doesn’t know this but wants to escape from the palace to be a “normal person” but her parents the Emperor and Empress (Jim Gordon and Liz Black) are not having this as she is expected to marry one of their own ranks. To make sure of this two guards Nick Nick and Me Maw (Gavin Millar and Brian McArthur) who have been transferred from the west of Scotland and are the comedy duo, try to stop this from happening. I must say that these two are a superb pairing and their comedy was suited to everyone in the audience with some more adult jokes that would go over the head of the younger people in the audience. Lulu (Cath Monk) who looks after the Princess was also there to keep her on the straight and narrow.  We then meet another pairing who are going to open a market food stall the Lucky Tattie. Pattie and Kattie (Alison Murdoch and Meghan Whalen) they were a second comedy duo. The “Baddie” in this production was Abanazar played by Idris Dean, whose sole purpose was to steal the genies lamp and make himself the ruler. The Genie (James Wallace) had great make up and was intent to make Aladdin make wishes so he wouldn’t go back in to the lamp. Finally, Aladdin has a pet Panda, Ping Pong who was suitably suited up by Liz Gordon.

I have not singled out any one individual for specific praise as the whole of this cast were all excellent, in their acting and singing and getting involved with the audience. If there was anything I would like to have seen or heard more of it would be a few more songs/music.

The story flowed and all of the elements of traditional panto was included from panto dame (Nancy) - she must have spent a fortune on her wardrobe. Love interest Aladdin and Princess Jasmine to the comedy capers with the two policemen and the baddie becoming a goodie and everyone all living happily ever after.

I enjoyed the audience interactions and the local jokes for those in the know went down very well. This was a slick, fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable production and the full house when I was there were fully spellbound from start to finish. It was a great evening. Thank you for another successful production.

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