Aladdin

A most attractively constructed opening market square scene was created and built by Peter Myers together with Karen Salfarlie and Kate Burgess, adding colourful dressings and responsible for the many props used. The villagers created a busy market scene in both movement and music on opening. Scenes changed to behind the laundry to inside the laundry which was fully equipped with a great mangle and machine which was particularly good at shrinking and there was an array of wonderful under garments of large proportions on display. All very effective, then off to outside and inside the Cave.

After a refreshment break and the novel idea of buying a fortune cookie that might have a yellow tag to win a bottle of prosecco. The Royal Garden set was again beautifully designed and decorated and onward to Dragon Mountain, back to behind the Laundry and the finale for a Royal Wedding. Well done to the Stage Crew with changes. Interesting sounds and lighting effects were operated by Isabel Hayward and Tanya Reddin-Stokes. Jasmine Tortello-Myers and Karen provided the Chinese style costumes and a particularly impressive, embellished outfit for Nathan Crawley who we really enjoyed booing as an ambitious, villainous sorcerer Abanazer. Peter Myers as Dame wore wonderful outfits and I loved the two-tier red hair do and excellent make up too. Carly Pepper oversaw both hair and makeup which was mainly in keeping with the piece, but I was a little disappointed that not everyone was fully made up which was noticeable from the front row.

Under the direction of experienced Georgia, chosen music had a good mix of numbers – solos and duets enjoyable and the ensemble pieces were strong and confident. With plenty of villainy from Abanazer and sidekick Wan-Tu Trish Buxton, intimidating armour plated warrior bodyguard to the fierce Empress Wang of all China, sternly played by Lucinda Silva who bade us the audience to bow and we did!  The intervention of the ring dwelling guardian who magically appeared together with the dancing and acrobatic skills Molly Burgess as Genie of the Lamp helped towards a happy conclusion. Kate Worobec portrayed the stately Empress.

Comedy moments were numerous – the two comical bungling police officers attempting to uphold the law, constantly on the move, were guitar strumming Steve Avery as Sergeant Wong with his young assistant PC Pong Lydia Crawley. Peter Myers made a wonderful Twankey, full of cheek and wit throughout and the mirrored ballet with Molly Burgess and her creative choreography was a hoot. Another wonderful moment was the clever way of producing a human magic carpet – brilliant. There was much knicker nicking which was the task of Amelie Reddin-Stokes as the unusual Giant Knicker Nicking Woozle Bug - a particularly creepy bug.

Widow Twankey’s favourite son was streetwise Aladdin – our brave hero cheeky but poor, besotted with Princess Belrubador was confidently played by Lerryn Deaves who believes his station to be too low to attract her. However, of course fortunes change with the help of a magic lamp and a couple of Genies. His brother, somewhat foolish, but lovable laundry boy Wishee Washee was brightly played by Juniper Deaves.

Florence Condon-Rogers was whirled by magic onto the stage appearing as the Slave of the Ring also becoming a puppeteer for the fun appearance of little Muppets either side of the curtains during Widow Twankey’s comedy song– very entertaining. Also doubling characters were Molly Burgess, Dusty Jenkinson and Amelia Reddin-Stokes. The smart, modern Princess fell for Aladdin was attractively costumed Wilma Boddy and was well supported by her two loyal hand maidens So-Shi and So-Soft working so well together were Dusty Jenkinson and Amelie in yet another role. A fun and enjoyable performance with a little assistance from behind the screen, prompt Yvonne Cotterell, and thanks to the F of H team and unseen heroes too.

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