• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
      • Eastleigh Basics Bank
      • Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler’s Ford
    • Fair Trade
      • Traidcraft stalls in Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford Parish Council
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
  • Site Archive
    • Site Archive 2018
    • Site Archive 2017
    • Site Archive 2016
    • Site Archive 2015
You are here: Home / Arts / Review of Aladdin by Chameleon Theatre Company

Review of Aladdin by Chameleon Theatre Company

January 27, 2016 By Janet Williams 1 Comment

My husband and I went to see Aladdin, by Nigel Holmes, performed by the Chameleon Theatre Company at Ritchie Memorial Hall last Saturday.

I bumped into my neighbours at the hall. “How many are you here?” I asked.

“15!”

Watching the Chameleons’ pantomime in January has become my neighbours’ family tradition. Three generations and cousins of my neighbours have enjoyed their yearly treat with the Chameleons.

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016
Aladdin – pantomime performed by Chandler’s Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016

This is what makes the Chameleons’ pantomime so unique in Chandler’s Ford.

The Chameleons are performing nine shows in January, including one special show to entertain the elderly from nursing homes in our community.

Last year the Chameleons celebrated its 50th anniversary. I was lucky to have watched all of their performances last year:

  • Review: Dracula by Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Review: Relatively Speaking – Another Triumph for Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Review: Relatively Speaking – Chandler’s Ford Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Review: Fawlty Towers by Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Review: The Wizard of Oz by the Chameleons
Chandler's Ford Good Neighbours
Chandler’s Ford Good Neighbours

This year, Chameleon Theatre Company supports Chandler’s Ford Good Neighbours.

Supporting Chandler’s Ford Good Neighbours

Sheila Hardiman, Chairman of the Chameleons said:

“We are supporting Chandler’s Ford Good Neighbours which provides volunteer drivers and befrienders for those who cannot get out easily. ”

“l drive for them and meet some lovely people, but more volunteers are always needed to fulfil all the requests. If you have any spare time, please consider volunteering.”

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016. A street in Peking.

Review of Aladdin

I have a feeling the performance was made for me, just for me alone.

This pantomime has a Chinese theme. You even get to hear some Chinese music.

The scene is set in Peking (Beijing). The scene and costume are stereotypically Chinese. Just imagine these: Chinese lanterns; characters wear Chinese costume complete with coolie hats; the emperor spots a Chinese-style tash and speaks pidgin English.

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016. Emperor played by Geoff Dodsworth.

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016. Widow Twankey played by Dave Wilkins.

The dame, well, fully enjoys herself with her most outrageous flirtations.

Dave Wilkins, with an exaggerated make-up, is rather comfortable in his Chinese-Japanese kimodo dresses. He has the charisma that could trigger the audience’s laughter with just a glance, or a gesture.

The dame also comes up close and personal with her chosen audience. You have been warned.

The sets are brought to life by the wonderful backdrops designed by Terry James.

It’s great to see the Chameleons have an infusion of new blood.

In Aladdin, you could see that the Chameleons have a mix of performers.

Marilyn Dunbar (Spirit of the Ring), Dave Wilkins (Widow Twankey), Geoff Dodsworth (Emperor), Sheila Hardiman (Vizier), Lisa Dunbar (Aladdin), Sian Hayden (Policeman) and a few others are familiar faces, whose performances always live up to high standards.

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016. Wishee Washee played by Paul Jones.

There are also a few talented young members such as Paul Jones (Wishee Washee), Matt Costen (Abanazar), Kelly Maiden (Princess Yasmine), and Emma Peacock (Zing Zong).

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016. Widow Twankey played by Dave Wilkins.

Gillian Wilkins, Director of Aladdin, also successfully directed Peter Pan two years ago.

With Aladdin, Gillian Wilkins has to manage adults and children, and, worse still, her husband.

How did she achieve everything so well? How did she cope with the terrible jokes of Widow Twankey (who has a tendency of being creative on stage) and Wishee Washee? I do not know.

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company. The chorus.

The pantomime brings joy and all are pleased to see love reunited.

Apart from the talented cast, the backstage crew, front of house staff, and all of the technical team are all superb in making Aladdin the best pantomime production.

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016

Aladdin - pantomime performed by Chandler's Ford Chameleon Theatre Company, January 2016. The technical team is led by Lionel Elliott.
The technical team: Lionel Elliott leads a strong technical team – (girl) Daisy Wilkins, Rebecca Nye, Cari Laythorpe, and Ben Williams.

Credit: Photographs of the stage performance are by Stuart Wineberg.

Highlights of Aladdin on Youtube


Related posts:

  • Review: Dracula by Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Chameleon Theatre Company Supports Chandler’s Ford Good Neighbours
  • Another Triumph for Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Review: Relatively Speaking – Chandler’s Ford Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Eastleigh Museum Summer Soirée with the Chameleons
  • Review: Fawlty Towers by Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Review: The Wizard of Oz by the Chameleons
  • The Chameleons: Murder Mystery Raised Fund For Kings’ School Winchester
  • Chameleons: From Ladykillers To Wizard Of Oz
  • Theatre Review: The Ladykillers By Chameleon Theatre Company
  • Meet The Chameleons At Hiltingbury Extravanganza
  • Vicar Of Dibley By The Chameleons: Brilliant Show
  • Chameleons Help Raise £2,000 for Cystic Fibrosis and Multiple Sclerosis Charities
  • Chameleons: Superb Spring Happenings
  • Chameleons: Magical Peter Pan Delight For Chandler’s Ford

Never miss out on another blog post. Subscribe here:

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email

Related posts:

Review: The Pocket Dream by Chameleon Theatre Company Review: The Wizard of Oz by the Chameleons Review: Dracula by Chameleon Theatre Company Review: All My Sons – Chameleon Theatre Company 2016 Fawlty Towers Chameleon Theatre Company Chandler's FordReview: Fawlty Towers by Chameleon Theatre Company
Tags: arts and crafts, Chameleon Theatre, Chandler's Ford Good Neighbours, Chandler’s Ford community, community, entertainment, event, Hursley Road, local interest, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall

About Janet Williams

I created Chandler's Ford Today. I use this website to share our passions and inspiring stories, to build a connected community. We inform, educate and enlighten. We share resources.

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Review: All My Sons - Chameleon Theatre Company 2016 - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    April 30, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    […] Keller) and Paul Jones (Frank Lubey), both ridiculously good-looking young men, were hilarious in Aladdin early this year, when Matt played Abanazar, and Paul played Wishee […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

999, 111, 101, 112? Emergency Numbers You Must Know
Quizzes and Word Games
101 Things to Put into Room 101
Blog
David Beckham's Chinese Tattoo
Home
Buddhist Rituals
My Passion For Woodwork
A Dinosaurs' Garden
My Favourite Short Walk - Itchen Navigation from Bishopstoke to Allbrook

Categories

Tags

arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening gardening tips good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to interview Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • John Roberts on Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear and Other Mondegreens
  • Allison Symes on Zest In Fiction
  • Mike Sedgwick on Zest In Fiction
  • Allison Symes on Zest In Fiction
  • Lynn Clement on Zest In Fiction
  • Bram van Reemst on Peculiar British House Numbering System

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2022 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.