Aladdin
WRITING BY: TOBY BRADFORD & TINA WEBSTER
DIRECTED BY: EMMA PRIEST
Performance Dates
Friday 11th January 2013 – 7:30pm
Saturday 12th January 2013 – 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Sunday 13th January 2013 – 2:30pm
Friday 18th January 2013 – 7:30pm
Saturday 19th January 2013 – 2:30pm & 7:30pm
About the show
This year’s production of Aladdin written by Toby Bradford and Tina Webster and published by NODA was a classic pantomime with some wonderful set pieces. First time director Emma Priest wanted to create a particularly traditional and family friendly show.
Our hero Aladdin was played by newcomer George-Ann Hemmett Ward and the Princess played by Jessica Sacco. Abanazar was played with evil relish by Bryan Deverell, Widow Twankey was Richard Fair – playing his favourite role of Dame, Richard always hits the right note with the strange pantomime tradition, that the audience should be in no doubt that the Dame is a ‘man in a dress’. In his second pantomime with the Players, Wishee Washee was played by Barry Thomas, a role which needed great comedy skills and a good audience rapport.
The principles were backed up by pantomime veterans Val Smith and Linda Holmes (playing the not very bright henchman) a role which Val commented came strangely easily to her! Genie of the Ring and Genie of the lamp (Jenny McGuckin and Jean Smith), two dim-witted police constables (Daily Fermor and Tyler Davis) supported by a colourful all singing, all dancing chorus.
The costumes were particularly good and colourful – thanks to Lyn McGuckin and her team and with thanks for their help to Folkestone Opera & Drama Group who so kindly opened their extensive wardrobe for us.
Gaety Fair and Sheila Ross created some wonderful Chinese themed colourful backdrops, Tim Nolan created some wonderful lighting effects, and Tim Bennett on sound, assisted the chorus and principals in the intricacies of singing along to taped music.
All in all a really funny, happy, colourful, musical good production – why stay at home watching C list celebrities being humiliated on TV when you can see live entertainment in your village hall!