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P R O D U C T I O N S > A L I B A B A
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The evil Sultan wants to kill all
the pure-hearted boys and girls in his Sultanate! Can Ali Baba stop
him?
The annual Woodhouse pantomine takes you to the East (of London),
with its palatial splendour, its passionate culture and its excellent
drainage system. Join Ali Baba and the beautiful Princess Macademia
as they battle to protect themselves and all the boys and girls
from the evil Sultan. Along the way they meet a magical genie and
four rather suspicious types who may be a bit light-fingered.
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W H E R E & W H E N & H O W M U C H
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at the Welsh Church Hall
£6 adults
£3 concessions
advance booking only
Online booking subject to a transaction fee
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Thu 28 December 2006, 7.30pm
Fri 29 December 2006, 7.30pm
Sat 30 December 2006, 3* and 7.30pm
Fri 5 January 2007, 7.30pm
Sat 6 January 2007, 3* and 7.30pm*
(*these performances now sold out)
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Sultan Pepper
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Vaughan Prosser
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Ali Baba
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Stuart Browne
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Berkules
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Phil Braithwaite
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Barry
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Vaughan Thomas
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Larry
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Ken Buddell
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Dora
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Jo Watson
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Nora
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Hilary Benson
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Neville, the Chamberlain
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Jackie Withnall
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Princess Macademia
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Anna Treadway
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Dame Barbara Baba
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Andy Grant
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Queenie the Genie
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Natasha Agnew
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Sylvester the Jester
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Brian Miller
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Isaiah
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Matthew House
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Marsinah
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Shauntelle Benjamin
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Lalume
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Jackie Braithwaite
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Hajj
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Colin Heinink
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Dancers
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Alastair Agnew, Ita Hill, Salley Rear, Sam Kenny, Sarah Fox, Naomi Rouse, Eva Cordery-Smith
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Charlie
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Himself
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P R O D U C T I O N T E A M
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Director
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Stephen Balchin
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Producer
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Thos Ribbits
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Assistant Director
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Nicola Holland
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Technical Director
/ Sound Operation
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Peter Raggett
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Lighting Operation
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Sarah McLeod
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Set Construction
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Stephen Cahill-Hayes
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Music
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Xander Hough
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Stage Management
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Susan Smith, Emerson Povey
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Assistant Stage Manager
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Ruth Rouse
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Follow Spot operator
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Mel Gault
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Technical assistance
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Robert Bettelheim
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Make-up consultant
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Vaughan Prosser
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Singing Coach
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Chris Pethers
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Set assistance
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Liz Cullen
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| Images by Robert
Bettelheim |
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Images by Kate Harper |
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Images by and © Skippy |
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Images by and © Skippy |
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Images by and © Stephen Cahill-Hayes |
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design: Nicola Holland
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Karen Hart:
If you were looking for a real old-fashioned pantomime over the Christmas period,
The Woodhouse Player's 'Ali Baba and The Four Tea Leaves' would have been the one to see.
Ali Baba, the poor housekeeper's son and Princess Macademia, the Sultan's daughter, were given a bright,
modern twist by Stuart Browne and Anna Treadway in lively performances that befitted their characters well.
While his mother, Dame Barbara Baba, played by Andy Grant, was the quintessential pantomime Dame,
complete with over the top costumes, garish make-up and ghastly hair styles, he had the lot,
and had the audience shouting and calling out in true pantomime style right from the start, in what was a truly
funny performance.
The wicked, money grabbing ruler, Sultan Pepper, was performed with real nastiness by Vaughan Prosser -
all lines delivered with an evil sneer that had the audience hissing and booing throughout - an excellent performance here.
I loved the character of Berkules, the Sultan's bodyguard, played by Phil Braithwaite complete with padded muscley torso,
he strutted about the stage in a believably arrogant performance, even on occasion, allowing the audience a squeeze
of his biceps.
The character, Isaiah, the male gorilla with a feminine side, was a great addition. Matthew House was perfectly cast here,
making the most of his obvious comic talent in a character that the audience, both children and adults loved.
Of course there was a Genie, and the role of Queenie the Genie was filled here with a flash and a bang by Natasha Agnew,
who made the part of the larger than life glamour puss, looking for love through the lonely hearts columns, a gem.
In fact, there were faultless performances all round, with the four thieves, Neville the Chamberlain and Sylvester
the Jester among others, all first class. And, the mis-fit dance troupe was just brilliant.
Altogether, this was a good example of how to produce and perform the perfect pantomime - great characters, songs, loads of audience interaction and rotten jokes by the bucket load. Once again the Woodhouse Players provided an excellent evenings entertainment.
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