THE curtain rises tonight on Aladdin & His Wonderful Lamp at the Milton Rooms, Malton, in the first Malton and Norton Amateur Operatic Society production of this pantomime for ten years.

The society is fielding some of Ryedale's best comedy performers to tickle the ribs and confuse what plot there is in traditional style in the latest John Coates show.

Five comics join forces to "throw spanners in the works", led by Stewart Ainley. Now nicknamed 'super dame' because of his ability to lift cars and free trapped passengers, Stewart is playing Aladdin's domineering mother, Widow Twankey, in his second year as the Malton and Norton dame.

Mark Poole confuses matters further as Aladdin's dim yet not-so-dim brother Wishee Washee, while comedy duo Scott Garnham and Ian Goring bungle their efforts to restore order as the dozy policemen Ping and Pong under the watchful eye of Mark Boler's dithering Emperor of China. Ryedale teenagers Laurie Scarth and Felicity Hinde, both experienced singers, are cast as Aladdin and Princess So Shi, who must battle for good against evil Uncle Abanazar, played by Martin Lettin in his debut role as panto villain.

Lisa-Marie Wade and Carley Zoeller add a touch of glamorous magic as the Genie and the Slave of the Ring, and the cast also features senior dancers and junior performers from Malton's Kirkham-Henry Performing Arts Centre, plus supporting players Sophie Robinson, Richard Nortcliffe and Paul Brett. Aladdin runs nightly at 7.15pm from tonight until January 20, with matinees tomorrow and next Saturday at 2.15pm.

Tickets are on sale at £5 and £4 at Jack-in-a Box, Malton, tel 01653 693497. All tickets for the opening night are at the concession rate of £4.