Production 181 - Aladdin
By Linda Mewes
Performed on Wed 17th to Sat 20th December 2008 at The Kilshawe Theatre
Previews/Reviews
Aladdin
Director’s panto debut delights the audience
The Guild Players entertained a lively audience at Deal’s Kilshawe theatre with Linda Mewes’s oriental adaptation of Aladdin. Her first attempt at writing and directing brought the best out of the cast, allowing Neil Hornsey to tie the pantomime together as larger than life Wishy Washy, a love-sick laundry assistant who orchestrated the audience participation with alacrity. Luke Breen in the title role showed other sides to his talent, singing several good solos including a moving rendition of Yesterday. Wong and Pong (Angela Jeffery and Anne Henson), received the biggest audience reaction as two dopey Peking palace guards complete with droopy black moustaches. Pyrotechnics and other effects, including music, added to the enjoyment. The stars of the show were a delightful dance troupe of small schoolgirls who performed several numbers (choreographed by Emily Best and Debbie Pinfold). As well as heartily singing the foot-tapping Rhythm of Life, these young ladies further enlivened the pantomime with their obvious enjoyment of being on stage. The Guild Players continue to go from strength to strength, this being their 181st show. The consistent high quality of the fruits of their labour turns an amateur dramatics performance into an event punching well above its weight.
Elsa Lewis
Published in the East Kent Mercury January 1st 2009