Aladdin, Burley Players, Burley Village Hall (From Daily Echo)
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Aladdin, Burley Players, Burley Village Hall
9:42am Wednesday 6th February 2013 in Curtain Call By Alan Johns
JUST when I was thinking panto season had finished… oh, no it hasn’t!
Thankfully, the performance restored my faith in this traditional genre, and very entertaining it was.
Alan P Frayn’s script was given a refreshing treatment, no-doubt spiced-up by director Annie McTaggart and the talented cast.
Mel Barton was an aboveaverage Aladdin, a natural actress and singer, cast opposite pretty Georgie Street, who performed well as Princess Mandarin.
Producer Paul Berry’s rubber-faced Wishee Washee and funnyman Tim Gaskell (Widow Twankey) both gave excellent performances, as did Sharon Street and Sandy Simpson as knockabout policemen.
Steve McTaggart was a fine Abernazar and worthy of special mention is Wayne Priestley, who lit-up the stage as Genie.
The simple backdrops and lighting worked well and the sound, potentially a let-down, was crystal clear.
Peter Bodley and Graeme Thew provided lively musical accompaniment and the good-natured heckling prompted hilarious ripostes throughout.
Oh yes it did!
