Ali Baba

Thank you very much for inviting me to your annual pantomime at the Torpoint Council Chambers and as always for the warm, welcoming reception I receive every time I arrive.

 

As always, the town hall was buzzing with excitement in anticipation as the audience took to their seats. The annual pantomime is something the town thoroughly look forward to. The atmosphere was set beautifully with lighting, set and music whilst the audience took their seats and this helped to set the scene with a taste of what was to come.

 

It was nice to see some new members joining the ranks this year taking on some of the larger roles. It is pleasing to see that theatre is very much finding its feet again after such disruption over the last few years.

 

The costumes for this production were excellent and very professional indeed. The costume team are clearly very ably led as many of these costumes were made in house. One costume that certainly is worth of note was the camel costume made by the director herself including a small element of puppetry with the head. You could easily be mistaken for believing this to have been a bought in costume.

 

There was a good selection of songs chosen for the production and all round there was good projection from the cast. This was true both in the songs and the dialogue. I particularly enjoyed Kasim and Olive’s “Money song”

 

The show was well cast and the director clearly knows where the strengths lay within the company even with new members joining. Kasim was a strong performer and held his own as the baddy whilst dealing with the audience boos. Fatima was another strong performer and one that is well versed in holding a strong character as the traditional dame. Ali Baba himself was a great performed who had excellent comic timing and a great rapport with the audience.

 

Choreography was well suited to the space and the ensemble and provided opportunity for all to get involved. Set and lighting was provided by Andy Martin and as always was excellent and well suited to the production. Particularly effect was the set for inside the cave. I enjoyed the numerous hats that were donned as the many strong arms of Kasim appeared as they stole the treasure from within.

 

Overall this was an enjoyable evening and the show was slick and well-rehearsed. It flowed smoothly and seamlessly. All the cast knew exactly what to do and where to be. Congratulations on great show and I look forward to returning next year.

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