The Lynchmereans' Pantomime 2008, Aladdin
Report by Philippa Hamilton
The festive season saw the tireless Lynchmereans putting on another fabulous pantomime at the Hardman Hoyle Memorial Hall in Hammer. This year's production was an inspired and refreshingly contemporary adaptation of the old tale of Aladdin put together by Frederick Tibbs and Lucy McCallum, both members of the cast.
This was an incredible 61st pantomime by the Lynchmereans and the sixth time they had put on Aladdin over the decades. The 2008 version proved a delicious blend of tradition, razzmatazz, double entendre, kitsch and pure festive fun—the perfect pantomime recipe.
The whole production oozed with the Lynchmereans' now renowned energy, enthusiasm and dedication. The lighting, sound, props and set were triumphs of the respective teams' skill, ingenuity and sense of humour. A raft of inspired and eye-catching costumes adorned the players and dancers. They sparkled, flowed and, in the case of the genie's eye-catching belly button, flashed in glorious technicolour.
The cast did a superb job with a punchy version of the old storyline. Sylvia McCallum and Karen Garrett presided expertly over the magical events as the Emperor and Empress, and mother of the iridescent Princess Jasmine. She was played with wonderful panache and confidence by Flora Shaw. Her singing was quite exceptional. The palace entourage including the elegant (if cheeky) ladies in waiting and the Soothsayer and Numbaa Two, (Scarlett Harris and Grace Holland), kept the Royals in order as best they could whilst the magic and romance unfolded between Aladdin and the Princess under the competing influences of the Fairy, the Genie, and the evil Abanaza.
Frederick Tibbs carried off a masterful, camp Widow Twanky with enormous stage presence and impeccable timing. Aladdin, played confidently by Lily Bank, impressively dodged all evil efforts by a larger than life Abanaza (Steve Clarke), who had the audience booing and hissing like their lives depended on it, and won his Princess eventually. This was not without a little help from an eye-catching and frighteningly convincing Genie in the form of Christopher Tibbs (the outfit rather suited him, the audience could not help but observe) and the very laid-back fairy (Lucy Moore).
The main cast were supported by the most exceptional teams of young and talented dancers, sweeps, rats and policemen. Their performances (including some highly complicated and finessed dance routines) added splendid colour and entertainment to what was a truly superb festive performance. All in all this was yet another triumph for the whole production crew and Lynchmerean supporters, many of whom have been involved for years and give up enormous amounts of their time to make this such a successful community event.