Aladdin

The pantomime season continued with a trip to Eastwood Theatre, Glasgow for Harlequin’s annual pantomime, this time “Aladdin” in one of its many guises and written by Alan McHugh, who is almost the resident scriptwriter for Harlequin.   Acting membership of Harlequin ends at the age of twenty-one and this year, the principal cast ranged in age from 14 to 19 – a genuine youth theatre.  

Set in Peking by Giffnock, the script contained many local allusions and the jokes came fast and furious. All the usual characters were there led by Aladdin, played by Ewan Pringle who has played several principal roles with the Company.    Sands Stirling as Widow Twankey was making his last appearance with Harlequin and plans to pursue acting as his profession as does Eilidh Lawson as So Shy, also making her last appearance with the Company. Joseph Cameron has been with the Company for two years and clearly enjoyed playing the role of Wishee Washee. Rebecca Baillie as Princess Pekinesia was making her 19th appearance for Harlequin and Shona McHugh as the Empress must have a similar record having been a member for about nine years. Max Yuill as Abanazar and Jamie McQueen as the Genie have each played principal parts for the Company, Paul Cameron as the Emperor being the youngest member of the principal cast at the age of 14, although it is his sixth show with Harlequin.

All of which goes to show the loyalty and dedication of the members of Harlequin to the Company and the respect in which they hold the production team and the organizers. One can always be sure of an enjoyable pantomime or show from Harlequin – it is built into their genes.  

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