Ali Baba

For their 2017 pantomime offering, NATS had chosen David Swan’s version of the fable “Ali Baba & The Forty Thieves”, from NODA’s pantomime collection, and a good choice it was too. With colourful characters, plenty of witty dialogue and loads of audience inter-action, this is what pantomime’s all about – having fun!

The opening scene, the colourful and noisy bazaar in Baghdad, is where we met most of the principal players.  As Ali Baba, Becky Monk gave a warm and bubbly performance, engaging well with the audience and gaining their sympathy with “her” plight as a penniless barber.  Ali’s ruthless and mean brother Kasim Baba, portrayed confidently by Steve Dunn, exacts every last penny from his tenants, including Ali, but hides an evil secret alias as “El Scorpio”, leader of the forty thieves.

He was well supported by Charlotte Biseker, who was convincing as his selfish and high-handed wife Olive Baba, who has to learn a hard lesson, when her fortunes are over-turned later in the plot. 

Matthew Fyleman was obviously thoroughly enjoying himself as the pantomime dame Fatima, owner of the Sunset Café, cooking up dubious dishes to tempt “her” customers, with plenty of quips and witty remarks to keep the audience entertained.  Tammy Cranwell and Alaios McHugh were engaging as Angel and Delight, the “aging” showgirl owners of the local nightclub, still trying to tempt customers with their belly dancing!  Olive Higham and Edward Dunn were absolutely delightful as El Scorpio’s two chief accomplices, Bubble and Squeak; two very confident and self-assured young performers, with excellent timing and inter-action.  Well done!

There were excellent performances, too, from the hero and heroine of the story.  Rosie Millar, as Ali Baba’s son Rhum, was enthusiastic and witty in “her” portrayal of a young man who’s just got a job as a policeman and has vowed to capture El Scorpio and put an end to his skulduggery.  Rhum’s budding romance with Polly, well-characterised by Alice Patten as the self-assured daughter of the eccentric and short-sighted archaeologist Professor Jones, developed nicely as the story unfolded and they join forces in making sure that good overcomes evil and the story, as in all good pantomimes, has a happy ending.

Polly’s father, poor Professor Jones, well-played by Matthew Squirrel, suffers the fate of the curse of King Pomegranate on entering his tomb, by being turned into a camel.  Amy Dunn and Louisa Higham gave a comical and convincing performance as the camel, cleverly mimicking some of the Prof’s mannerisms, so we were left in no doubt as to the camel’s true identity.  Happily, Crystal, the spirit of the cave, delightfully played by Alex West masquerading as an old fortune-teller, gently persuades the various characters to follow their allotted paths in the story and finally has the power to return the Professor to his human form.

In his note as Director in the programme, Will Murray had rightly praised the support and enthusiasm of everyone, both on stage and behind the scenes, involved in staging this year’s production.  He also made special mention of several new members who had joined the society this year and who had all risen magnificently to the challenge of acting, singing and dancing!  Without exception, every member of the cast smiled all the way through the performance and looked as if they were enjoying the experience.  The songs which interspersed the dialogue were all well chosen and well sung, thanks to Matt Squirrell, as Musical Director, the duet between Rhum and Polly an enjoyable high-light.  Liz West, as Choreographer, had devised some nicely varied routines, certainly capturing the eastern flavour, particularly enjoyable in the ballet scene in King Pomegranate’s tomb in the opening scene of Act II.  With a colourful and fitting scenery and costume plot and appropriate lighting and sound support, this was a good afternoon’s entertainment, enjoyed enthusiastically by the capacity audience.  Thank you, everyone!   

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