Chipperfield Theatre Group’s 2004 Panto was:
by David Swan
The January 2004 Pantomime was Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, with a great script by David Swan, who wrote Frankenstein the Panto and Beauty and the Beast for those of you who remember them. See the cast List here.
See NODA Crit here
See Watford Observer Crit here
See Watford Observer photo here
To put you in
the mood here’s a little synopsis:
“Welcome to Baghdad! Sunny Baghdad is the ideal family resort, particularly for those in search of hilarious adventure. The accommodation is excellent, with constant hot and cold running sand and single Bedouins in every room.
You’ll find bargains galore in the old bazaar: you can get our haircut at Ali Baba’s for a penny or your throat cut by El Scorpio for nothing.
If you fancy a bite to eat, try Fatima’s snake pie: it’s the local fast-food….get your teeth into it fast before it gets its teeth into you!
Sightseeing
couldn’t be easier….you can get involved in all the local 
colour
without leaving your seat. But if it’s excitement you’re after, why not
join
the intrepid
Pollyanna Jones and her father on a treasure hunt? They’re seeking
the Tomb of Doom and need loads of help avoiding thieves and ancient camel
curses!
Don’t worry if the going gets rough a good sing-song will raise the spirits… just be careful it doesn’t raise the dead.
In old Baghdad, nothing is quite what it seems…even the songsheet needs deciphering! But all will be revealed in the end.”
The Cast List
| Ali Baba | ‘The Barber of Baghdad’, has an irrepressible sense of fun and is the central comic character. He is an optimist, generous and generally likeable (MALE) |
| Rhum Baba | Ali’s policeman son it full of vitality and at times gets carried away by his own enthusiasm. He is brave, forthright and has a cheeky sense of humour. (PRINCIPAL BOY) |
| Kasim Baba aka El Scorpio | Ali’s rich brother is greedy, miserly and utterly ruthless. He will go to any lengths to satisfy his lust for money. Squeezing pennies from his poor tenants isn’t enough…disguised as ‘El Scorpio’ leader of the forty thieves he can rob them as well. (MALE) |
| Olive Baba | Kasim’s wife is selfish, cantankerous and full of airs and graces. The spoilt brat who never grew up. Eventually learns to be nice and the audience will forgive her. (FEMALE) |
| Fatima Kebab | The Dame though kind and sympathetic, has a quick wit and a sharp tongue when needed. Runs a disastrous café and is the butt of Ali’s jokes. (MALE) |
| Professor Jones | Brilliant but bumbling archaeologist. He is short-sighted in more ways than one and in constant need of guidance to keep out of trouble. (MALE) |
| Polly Jones | The Professors daughter is not a helpless romantic heroine and can definitely stand on her own two feet. It is she who infiltrates the forty thieves, exposes El Scorpio and ‘saves the day’. (FEMALE) |
| Crystal | The Spirit of the Cave, masquerades as fortune teller and manipulates the human characters so good will triumph in the end. Not typical fairy(FEMALE) |
| Vanilla and Delight | Owners of the Follies Baghdad. They are ageing showgirls, once customers would have flocked to watch them dance now they are past their prime. Vanilla is brazen and brassy. Delight is cute and cloying (FEMALES) |
| Bubble and Squeak | are a dimwit duo. Neither are convincing accomplices of El Scorpio. They are naughty rather than villainous and the audience should warm to their hopeless antics. Bubble is the smarter of the two. (MALE OR FEMALE) |
| The Camel | OH YES! A CAMEL IS WHAT IT SAYS! The camel is what happens to Professor Jones when he is cursed by the tomb. Could be two separate actors or one could be Professor Jones. |
Also needed was Chorus both adult and junior and dancers.
This pantomime was loads of fun with tons of silly business, audience participation, good songs, dancing and some dreadful jokes – but that’s just what pantomime is all about!
The Pantomime was directed by Lisa Callcut, with Jo Halkett as Assistant Director and Kathy Jones as Producer.
Read Through Session:
There was a read through on Tuesday 23rd September AT 7.45pm at Flaunden Village Hall. This was a normal read through as in the past. At the end of this session the audition pieces were advised along with the musical numbers.
Auditions:
The auditions took place at 1pm Sunday 5th October at Flaunden Village Hall as previously advised. They were closed per part and had people reading in to ensure equality in auditioning.
Ali Baba - Rob Hine
Rhum Baba - Rebecca East
Kasim Baba aka El Scorpio - Paul Instrall
Olive Baba - Wendy Marchant
Fatima Kebab - Bill Callcut
Professor Jones - John "Johno" Oglesby
Polly Jones - Rosemary Cronin
Crystal - Sarah Jayne Bottrill
Vanilla - Sue Harvey
Delight - Jenny Heusen
Bubble - Sarah Cronin-Stanley
Squeak - James Watts
Musthaphanana - Joe Heusen
The Camel - Johno and Mark Stratfull
The Chorus - Wendy East, Kathy Jones, Jo Halkett and Bridget Hine