Aladdin- The Pantomime by Alan Frayn

Under the experienced direction of Sallianne Foster-Major, the cast enjoyed themselves with this production of Aladdin as well as ensuring that the audience had a super time too. This is a really funny script by Alan P Frayn and the young cast used the comic lines to great effect, they delivered all the jokes with excellent comic timing so that none of the humour was lost.

Rhys Quinn was hilarious as the panto dame, Widow Twankey.  I was most impressed with this mature performance from someone so young – his engagement with the audience showed a great deal of confidence and potential.  Jacob Glerup was an upbeat and in tune Aladdin who was well paired with Caitlin Robinson as the Princess Mandarin.  This couple played their characters with a vibrancy of youth that didn’t merely seek to portray the traditional prince and princess roles – they had real spirit.  Alfie Wilcox was a mean and dramatic Abanazar and Ben Storey was hilarious as Twankey’s hapless son, Wishee-Washee.  I enjoyed the comedy double act of Ed Maxted and Evie Preston as Hu-Dun-Pong and Yu-Don-Wong – they worked very well together. 

Thea Barnes was very entertaining as The Spirit of the Ring – giving an upbeat and well characterised performance.  The all singing, all dancing Genie of the Lamp was strongly played by Harry Foster-Major who was both dramatic and humorous.   Hannah Pritchard gave a confident performance as So-Shy, handmaiden to the Princess.

Clever choreography by Amanda Tyas allowed everyone to take part in several numbers.  I enjoyed the production numbers, in particular the dances and songs in the Cave A-La-Din.  All of the cast clearly projected their lines and worked well together to overcome some technical problems which were out of their control - I felt this showed great team work and mature theatrical ability by a group of young performers.  The set was simple and effective, making good use of both the stage and auditorium by the cast.  The costumes were great for the production and props were well made and used to full effect – in particular in the Twankey’s Laundry. 

Congratulations to everyone involved in the production.

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