Aladdin - performed December 2008

By Kerry King

Director - Kerry King
Musical Director - Patience Ling

Pantomimes are a traditional part of our culture and in the present climate it is very reassuring that we can all sit back and enjoy a part of our history that will make us laugh and forget about the world outside. My grand-children have had a great influence in the writing of ‘Aladdin’ as children are, naturally, very astute critics and I took note of what they liked and did not like! So, sit back and find out if Aladdin will escape from having his head chopped off. Will Abanazar be number one richest man in Peking and marry Jasmine or will she have to marry Jafar (the second richest man) as her father, the Emperor, has arranged? Will Aladdin be able to save Jasmine. Who can make sure that love will defeat the baddies? It will need some magic from the Spirit of the Ring and the Genie of the Magic Lamp and of course YOU as you cheer the good and boo the bad! HAVE FUN and a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Kerry King

Special thanks to The Headgate Theatre and every who has helped with this production

Cast

(in order of appearance)

Abanazar Martin Rayner

Spirit of the Ring Amanda Rowe

Widow Twankey Nigel Rowe

Jasmine Pheobe Day

Aladdin Adam Duarte-Dias

Wishee Washee Luke Duarte-Dias

Knee Adrian Bolton

Knaw Tom Rowe

Genie Lester Pearse

Gorilla Steve Saddler

Jafar Glyn Hill

Emperor Gordon Prior

Chorus Tom Blyth
Matthew Barrott
Robin Morris-Denholm
Robert Duarte-Diaz
Tovah Undrill
Chris Sadd
Christine Phasey

Production Team

Kerry King, Patience Ling, Doug Newton, Bruce Emeny, Andy Terry, Daniel Humphreys, Roger Licence, Derek Butcher, Nigel Morton, Glyn Hill, Tom Rowe, Chris Bush, Gloria Streames, Yvonne Cobbold, John Roberts, Caroline Roberts, Lester Pearse, Viv Wheatley, Val Taylor, Steve Sadler and other volunteers not mentioned.

Awards & Nominations

NETG Showcase Nominations 2008/9
Best Supporting Actor: Lester Pearce as The Genie
Best Supporting Actress: Amanda Rowe as The Spirit
Best Actress: Pheobe Day as Princess Jasmine

Reviews

Christmas in Manningtree got off to a magical start with the Manifest Theatre Group's production of Aladdin.
Everything was included in the show, written and produced by Kerry King - bright lights, colourful costumes, singing and dancing, poor jokes and the usual banter between cast and audience.

The undoubted star was Nigel Rowe, who was out-standing as Widow Twankey and turned what might have been just another pantomime into something rather special. He was ably backed by the rest of the cast. Martin Rayner was rather suitably sinister as Abanazar while Lester Pearse, a somewhat unusual Genie, and the emperor's guards alias Adrian Bolton and Tom Rowe, added to the general confusion and humour.

It was good to see younger members of this talented group taking the roles of Aladdin, Princess Jasmine and Wishee Washee, namely Adam Duarte-Dias, Pheobe Day and Luke Duarte-Dias.
The backstage crew do not usually get a mention but on this occasion they should take a bow as the lighting, sound effects and the use of film for the flight of the magic carpet was particularly clever.
Yvonne Cobbold too and her team should be commended for the wonderful array of costumes, which must have taken hours of hard work to produce.
All in all it was a great night's entertainment.
Lesley Pallett