Written by Marion Rogers
Directed by Marion Rogers
The Medstead Players could not be faulted for their Christmas pantomime Aladdin, as ideal children's entertainment. It was colourful, noisy, full of action and knock-about humour in good measure.
The script by Marion Rogers, who has written other pantos for the stage, must have been one of her best. It was full of life, and well performed by a happy cast. The scenery, particularly in the cave scene, was excellent.
It was well supported by a most responsive audience and this must have given much confidence to the hard-working cast. There was a lot of dancing, and much of these items were too long drawn-out and repetitive, but, otherwise, the action was swift and everyone spoke out well.
The concert opened with a Chinese ballet, which would have been improved had the youngsters looked a little more cheerful. Later they lost their nervousness and all was well.
Dianne Nicholls and Pam Kercher came on as the two Chinese laundry maids and they were full of fun. With their exchange of old and fairly new jokes and riddles, they set the panto off in a happy mood.
Stan Whitcher was in his element as the Widow Twanky, overdressed, flamboyant and suitably buxom, he worked hard keeping the audience involved, and proved himself very light on his outsize boots during the dance scenes.
The Grand Vizier, Mike Overy, was a nasty old man bowing and scraping to the Emperor, Chop Suey, adequately played with oriental overtones by Ron Whitcher.
Jane Fomes made an excellent Aladdin. She looked the part, with excellent legs and a good speaking voice, was a fine principal boy. Her pet horse, Dobbin, was beautifully played by that popular duo, Val and Anita Prior. It is not easy to follow the leader's actions and footsteps when you cannot see what is happening, but they frolicked and danced together splendidly.
Heather Coombs, as Princess Lychee, had only a small part to play but she looked very pretty and carried herself well.
Matthew Parratt was the wicked Abanazar, self-styled uncle of Aladdin. He was a sufficiently slimy character, subject to fearsome abuse from his mates in the audience, but he tricked the lad into entering the underground cave. This was a most attractive scene in the half light, with hidden fairies emerging from behind very realistic rocks, to be led into an airy ballet by Kathy Whitcher.
The slave of the lamp was John Gregory, who now sprang to the rescue of Aladdin after long years of incarceration underground. A strange, unearthly phenomenon, he sported a growth of stubby beard, which he blamed on his 200 years' captivity, and a bikini top, which he did not explain. He was referred to as the genie with the light brown her!
The traditional kitchen scene, where the Widow Twanky, helped by Dobbin and Edd the Duck, baked an elaborate decorated birthday cake in the explosive oven, was| fun, and the old trick of getting the children on stage was as effective as ever.
The final curtain was spectacular and quite unexpected. No more the procession of characters on to the stage in order of precedence to take a bow, but the whole cast take the stage in a solemn, stately pavane, the performers changing places with the precision of a military display.
It ended with all the young ones sitting in the front of the stage to a well deserved applause.
The lighting, the scenery, the backstage work and the colourful costumes were excellent. The audience had fully responded to the encouragement given from the stage, and it all added up to a good evening's entertainment.
N.H.C.
Cast:
Widow Twanky - Stan Whitcher
Aladdin - Jane Fomes
Princess Lychee - Heather Coombs
Abanazar - Matthew Parratt
Grand Vizier - Mike Overy
Jeannie (with the light brown hair) - John Gregory
Two Wongs - Dianne Nicholls, Pam Kercher
Dobbin - Val Prior, Anita Prior
Edo, the duck's handler - Rowena Rogers
Lead Female Dancer - Kathy Whitcher
Sing Song - Anita Bone
Wing Wong - Anita Boxall
Ding Dong - Trevor Parratt
Ping Pong - Arlene Anderson
Ying Tong - Daniel Higgins
