Aladdin, Husthwaite Village Hall

9:56am Tuesday 25th March 2008

Oh yes it was - a success! From the minute the curtain went up on Abanazar, the wicked magician played by the highly talented Alun Nixon, audiences knew they were in for a pantomime evening of music, fun and humour.

This year's production, Aladdin, moved at a pace that was both invigorating and original. Working with a mix of young and older actors, many of whom were treading the boards for the first time, director Richard Wood managed to craft a theatrical entertainment that enthralled Husthwaite audiences in the village hall.

They participated, cheered and booed as appropriate, particularly when David Pike dominated the stage as Aladdin's mum and used all his dramatic experience to squeeze the utmost from every move and word.

Young Aladdin was played by Phil Grainger, making his Husthwaite pantomime debut, and he quickly became a favourite with the audience, especially the girls, and demonstrated a talent, both musical and dramatic, that will ensure he will be seen again.

His princess, Ellie Aspinall, belied her young age with a confidence and maturity that augurs well for her future. Anne Dowson managed to find time away from the village shop to assimilate a prodigious amount of learning and perform her role as Genie Of The Ring faultlessly.

She was also a participant, along with Rose Lawrence, Sue Wise and Jill Pike, in the ever popular Sand Dance routine. PC Ping (Maddy Nixon) and PC Pong (Kerry Barker) performed their constabulary duties authoritatively, mustering the junior members around the stage.

David Aspinall and Mark Gambles intoduced a highly entertaining song-and-dance routine involving two realistic mummies.

Throughout, however, the children shone developing into a highly-polished group over a short timespan, defeating fatigue during the school term.

India Wentworth led the polished Little Red Hen routine with an authority beyond her years, while Polly Cuthbert's Tatty intermissions were crisp.

Husthwaite is blessed with a technical team - comprising Mike Wells, John Ovenstone, Hannah Stroud and Aaron Beardsall - that can conjure up lighting and sound effects worthy of any provincial theatre, while Jill Pike recruited a team of wardrobe seamstresses that helped her ensure every character looked the part.

Music was provided with expertise and perfect timing by Linda Davison (electric piano) and Breda Wells on violin.

Last, but every bit as important, was the work of the choreographers - Loretta Knaggs and Abbigail Wright - the set designers and construction team of Lesley Ogle, Robin Walton, Lynn Collins, Debbie Price and Vikki Nixon, and stage manager Rob Kemp and his team - Jane Maloney, Nick Janiurek, Dave Jarman, Stella Ward and Tina Roberts.

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