Aladdin ° Autumn Term 2004

St. George's annual production, produced by Peter Onslow, Kirsty Hammal
and Sonia Eastham, took place on the 10th and 11th of November. This year
the staff and students turned their attention to a traditional pantomime, Aladdin, and a splendid whole school affair it turned out to be.

Over to Mr Onslow for a brief summary of events ...

Pantomime is a particularly British form of theatre and its history goes back at least 200 years. Several traditions have emerged over time. Notably that of the principal boy part being played by a female and the inclusion of a pantomime "dame" - played by a male!

Audience participation is actively encouraged and in Aladdin the audience should feel free to boo and hiss at the evil character of Mustapha Leekie. Feel free also to lend your support to Aladdin in his quest for the hand of the princess in marriage.

The Pantomime opens in Shanghai market when many of the main characters are introduced. Aladdin and his mother are trying to win the contract for the Emperor's laundry against opposition from Lo Suds Washee. Aladdin meets Princess Buddir and despite their different backgrounds falls in love with her. Enter Mustapha Leekie, the bogus uncle of Aladdin. He persuades Aladdin to enter a cave to find a magic lamp but Aladdin refuses to give the lamp to Mustapha and is entombed in a cave. Aladdin escapes with the help of the slave or Genie of the Ring. The Slave of the Lamp, summoned by rubbing the old lamp itself, brings Aladdin much wealth, but Buddir's mother and father, the Emperor and Empress of China will not permit Aladdin's marriage to Buddir.

Mustapha tricks the Princess into giving him the lamp and the Slave of the Lamp transports the Princess and Aladdin's palace to a far off land. Aladdin is blamed by the Emperor and Empress. Through the help of the Slave of the Ring, Aladdin eventually tracks down the Princess and the palace and succeeds in overcoming Mustapha, thus returning the Princess to her parents who then readily agree to the marriage.

As in all good pantomime everyone lives happily ever after ... even Mustapha Leekie!

Cast

Aladdin - Libby Urquhart Ducharme
Widow Twankey (Aladdin's mother) - Patrick Scully
Choo Lyp - Brita Midness
Foo Sha - Megan Stark
Mustapha Leekie (the wicked uncle) - Brad Stark
Emperor of China - Meriwether Beckwith
Empress of China - Marie Clarke
Princess Buddir - Lauren Watson
Saffron - Amelia White
Won Sor Wort - Allison Schmidt
Ben Chow Mein Blister - Melanie Milsted
Grand Vizier - Moses Sirota
Lo Suds Washee - Rosanna Driver
Wishee Washee - Amanda Steinson
Slave of the Ring - Brandon Bakus
Slave of the Lamp - André Sanchini
Guards - Claire Van Den Broek/Sophie Jardin
Maid - Francesa Jellicoe
Executioner - Thomas Clayton
Vendors - Teddy Voulgaris, Cara Salmon, Alex Urquhart Ducharme
Chorus - Robin Cowie, Sophie Watson, Nathalie Rey, Lynn Li Teo & Nina Grey

Chorus: Alexander Barnsley, Sarah Barnsley, Simone Bedford, Danielle Bizur, Polina Borisova, Jessyca Byssainthe, Denise Jnr Cachia, Alessandro Dal Canto, Carolina Espirito Santo, Rebecca Harling, Allison Hays, Eri Ichijo, Luana Landolt, Elliot Leach, Bonnie Simpson, Dylan Thomas.

Dancers: Thoraya Binzager, Shani Blum, Sara Bosshart, Sophie Houyez, Erin Hughes, Jawan Kudus & Anna Volkova.

Band: Piano Peter Onslow (Musical Director). Synthesisers: Judith Herron, Sonja Riley & Midori Kurokawa.

Stage Manager: Filipa Mendes. Props Manager: Lizzie Plumb
Stage Hands: Gonzalo Ceron, Isabel Edwards, Chloe Harty, Ed Harty, Chris Hutton & Dean McIntosh.

Sound Effects: Ed Harty
Special Effects: Ste Jones
Lighting: Michael Spelling
Spot: Mike Gillan
Costumes: Jilli Schibler
Costume Assistants: Christine Barnsley, Mohinder Watson
Set Design & Construction: Mike Gillan, Tim Jupp, Peter Onslow, Ed Steinson

Scenery: Suzie Mueller, Jessyca Byssainthe, Beatrice Guidi di Bagno, Chloe Harty, Allison Hayes, Erin Hughes, Midori Kurokawa, Lizzie Plumb, Sonja Riley, Lauren Watson.

Creator of Beautiful Things: Kate Bartlett

Make Up: Lilianne Bodenmann, Kathryn Beckett, Nicole Attar, Inna Bila, Taya Bila, Maria Sol Croci, Ludmila Goutina, Rebecca Haworth, Valeriya Ivashchenko, Ineke Koopmans & Anna Volkova.

Special thanks go to all those parents and staff who kindly lent various items for this production.