Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

This was a typical village Pantomime, and everybody really excelled.  It had colourful costumes, excellent singing with powerful voices, and plenty to laugh about.  Michael Dodsworth played the Dame, Fatima Fantango, and kept the laughter going throughout.  He was helped out by Trish Richardson, who played Bashim, and Natalie Moores, as Grabbit.  With names like that they couldn’t fail.  Hayley Bradley, as Mustafa Screwloose, really excelled, keeping the Panto going.  Katherine Laverick played the title role of Ali Baba very well indeed.  We had plenty to boo and hiss about when Lisa Cowley, as Alsatia, as a glamorous dog, did her best to spoil the plot, whilst Lousie Cuthbert, as the good fairy “cat” Caterina, got everything sorted out.  The baddy Asbad, played by Ian Franks, the leader of the Forty Thieves, kept the boos going well.  Ray Moores played the Sultan, and Andy Cunningham played his Vizier very well indeed.  The Sultan’s daughter was played by Laura Hallet, who won the heart of Ali Baba.  The Crown Prince was well played by Lousie Baker, who won the heart of Princess Jasmine played by Lesley Pearey.  The lady in waiting Marjana was played by Heidi Bradley.

The entire cast were supported by an excellent Chorus, and Deborah Jones, the choreographer, did a very good job, never making the stage overcrowded at any time.  The backstage staff all helped with good sets, scenery painting, and very colourful costumes.  The lighting and sound team did a very good job.  Perhaps in my mind the one person who worked harder than any one was Paul Laverick, the Musical Director, who literally had a full orchestra at his fingertips.  Ann Neve, the Producer, once again did a magnificent job in making this yet another great success.

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