Aladdin

After what seemed like weeks on unremitting rain I was delighted to spend an afternoon full of metaphorical sunshine with the NOWMADS team as they delivered another high energy, high quality, classic pantomime “Aladdin” from an original script from Alan P Frayn.

Once again, one of the most outstanding elements of the NOWMAD pantomime team is the inclusion and support of a live orchestra/band rather than backing tracks.  And what an Band!  From the first bars of the musical introduction to the final big finish, the band led every song with great skill producing not only a very tight sound, that always was incredibly well balanced with the vocal performances, but also leading the audience participation when this was required.

When it came to the on-stage talent, it was clear the work that Gillian and Charlotte had put into getting the best from their actors as each character was well developed so that you instantly knew who you needed to cheer and who the villains of the piece were without descending into caricature.

Hannah Chamberlain was in sparking form as Alladin and delivered one of the best old-skool principal boys I have seen in many a year.  Her combination of enthusiasm and sarcasm spoke to all members of the audience, young and old alike, and she drove the show along in all of her scenes.  Ashton Knight and Danny De Martino were the perfect Wishee Washee and Widow Twankey respectively.  Danny revelled in the classic Dame role and kept the audience in stitches with his delivery and energy.  Laura De Martino played Princess Mandarin with just the right level of sincerity.  It’s a hard role to deliver as it doesn’t get the jokes or slapstick but has to inspire all the children in the audience who want to be a princess.   Laura was ably assisted by Emma Seals as So-Shy.  I always enjoy Emma’s tongue-in-cheek delivery and once again she judged her performance to a tee.

Suzanne Heydon clearly was having a great amount of fun revelling in the part of the “Evil” empress and together with Ryan Burnett as Abanazar gave the children in the audience something to fear and boo as they almost chewed the scenery, plotting their various schemes to undo all happiness of the Princess and Aladdin.  Great fun and great timing throughout from both Suzanne and Ryan.

The comedy duo of Suzie Green and Julie Castledine as Yu-Dun-Wong and Hu-Dun-Pong were one of my highlight of the show.  Their constant energy, occasional corpsing, and infectious humour was a delight to watch in all their scenes.  The reaction from the audience was clear evidence that they had pitched their performances to be very much on-point.

Ellie Knight and Siobhan Waddington-Taylor both made their similarly themed characters of The Spirit of the Ring and The Genie of the Lamp distinct and individual and provided great support to the telling of the narrative of the show.  Haydn Taylor and Hari Fowdur didn’t take themselves too seriously as the Empress’s Royal Guard and Executioner but again game the roles the right level of Gravitas when needed.

No pantomime is complete without a strong ensemble to provide the appropriate wall of sound and movement and the NOWMADS team were on great form here.  So many congratulations to Abi, Carole, Charlotte, Evelyn, Helen, Jane, Jacs, Kate and Kathy.  Great choreography the cast and audience enjoyed in the unusual long and thin space at the church.

At all times in the production I was struck by the quality of the costuming, the choreography and the stagecraft on display from every character.  That doesn’t happen by accident so every member of the team should be suitably proud of what they delivered in the challenging production space.  Gillian, many congratulations along with Charlotte, Jason, Emma, Jane, Ellie and Charlotte.

Sound and lighting were spot on throughout so congratulations Rob, Rae, and Charlotte and the welcome I received on arrival was second to none making me feel very welcome to your excellent production.

Many thanks to you all and I look forward to seeing you again for the Sound of Music in October..

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