C=O proudly presents 'Aladdin'

The Co=Ordinator wrote:Act One Scene Six - Top Gear.

Love it, great pic.

Frank, I'm so pleased you and Geoff enjoyed yourselves. Making a 400 mile round trip was a remarkable effort on your part, one for which I'm truly grateful. I was also thrilled that Barnaby, Rich and Nick journeyed to Grenanforda to watch the show.

It has been a remarkable week, and tonight's show capped off 4 amazingly successful performances. I'll post the remaining 3 scenes in the thread this week, as well as (hopefully) unique footage of "The Dance of the Seven Frails".

The Wrinkly headlines: C=O IN PANTO TRIUMPH!

From Friday night. The Dance of the Seven Frails.

Best watched in High Quality. Please note that where I was filming was close to "Animal" the drummer!

The Co=Ordinator wrote:From Friday night. The Dance of the Seven Frails.

Best watched in High Quality. Please note that where I was filming was close to "Animal" the drummer!

Great clip, C=O. Thanks for posting it.

Work on the DVD is now underway. A bargain at just £13!!


Scene Six

The desert, lit for night time. Feng Shui is seated in front of a prop log fire, hands tied behind her back. Abanazar haughtily marches in stage left.

Abanazar: Well Princess, I hope you have used the time I’ve given you wisely. After all, it’s now late in the evening.

Feng Shui: (Cod deferentially) Oh yes mighty Abanazar. I now realise the error of my ways. You are, indeed, the Greatest Grandmaster of all time, and I shall happily do whatever you say –

Abanazar: (Butting in too quickly) Excellent!

Feng Shui: - not.

Abanazar: (After a brief pause) What???

Feng Shui: I don’t care what you do to me you horrible psychopath. I will never, ever, obey one single thing that you say.

Abanazar: You must; you will obey me.

Feng Shui: I obey no-one. I am a superior being. Well, certainly compared to you scumbag.

Abanazar: Ha, we shall see. You will regret what you have just said.

Abanzar storms out stage right. Feng Shui struggles with her bonds, but to no avail. Suddenly, and unexpectedly, Wun Hung Lo enters stage left, rushes up to the Princess, and unties her.

Feng Shui: (Standing up) What on earth are you doing Wun Hung? Do you realise how much trouble you’re going to be in with Abanazar?

Wun Hung: Don’t worry about me Princess. You’re far more important. (Kisses Feng Shui on hand before dashing off stage right)

Feng Shui: (To audience) Boys and girls, can you believe that? I have no idea about what’s come over Wun Hung Lo. But I’m very grateful nonetheless. All I need now is for Aladdin to turn up and save me. But how on earth can he? (Cue Music)

SONG – BEAUTIFUL

Every day is so wonderful,
And suddenly, I saw debris.
Now and then, I get insecure,
From all the pain, I'm so ashamed .

I am beautiful no matter what they say,
Words can't bring me down.
I am beautiful in every single way,
Yes words can't bring me down,
So don't you bring me down today .

To all your friends, you're delirious,
So consumed in all your doom.
Trying hard to fill the emptiness,
The piece is gone left the puzzle undone,
That's the way it is.

You are beautiful no matter what they say,
Words can't bring you down.
You are beautiful in every single way,
Yes words can't bring you down,
Don't you bring me down today.

No matter what we do,
(no matter what we do)
No matter what they say
(no matter what they say)
When the sun is shining through
Then the clouds won't stay

'Cause we are beautiful no matter what they say,
Yes, words won't bring us down, oh no.
We are beautiful in every single way,
Yes words can't bring us down,
So don't you bring me down today.

After song has finished, Aladdin and Slave enter stage right. Feng Shui rubs her eyes before rushing up to her beloved.

Feng Shui: Oh Aladdin. Is it really you?

Aladdin: Of course it is! (They hug. The Slave coughs to grab their attention) Oh, and please allow me to introduce you to The Slave of the Ring, without whom I wouldn’t be here.

Slave: Spot on there, my old son.

Feng Shui: Don’t tell me: another genie?

Aladdin: Well sort of, yes.

Slave: (Indignant) Excuse me, I’m nothing of the sort.

Genie enters stage left.

Genie: She’s right you know.

Slave: Hey, Genie. Long time no see – high five. (Said in the style of Borat)

Genie: Yo Slavey Baby, how are you keeping?

Aladdin: Blimey Genie, I didn’t know that you were allowed out of the lamp without your Master’s permission.

Genie: That is normally the case Al. But once a century we’re given a freebie, and I just decided to cash mine in!

Feng Shui: Whatever next?

Abanazar: (Enters stage right) Well, if I may be so bold, it’s probably time for me to deal with the whole lot of you. Including a certain duplicitous, two-timing Genie.

Genie: I was only having a bit of fun.

Abanazar: (Turns towards Aladdin) And as for you Aladdin, you’ve well and truly worn out your welcome – not that you actually ever had one.

Aladdin: Oh really? We shall see. (Aladdin rushes up towards Abanazar. He extends his right arm towards Aladdin, who is pushed back and over by an invisible force. Deeply concerned, Feng Shui rushes up to Aladdin)

Feng Shui: Oh Aladdin, are you alright?

Aladdin: I, I think so.

Abanazar: You are a fool Aladdin. You thought you could defeat the most powerful Sorcerer on all the Earth. But instead of that, you’ve actually worn out your welcome. Au revoir, loser.

Feng Shui: (Rushing up to Genie and Slave) Can’t you do something. Either of you?

Slave: I’m afraid that Abanazar is too powerful for me.

Genie: And as he’s currently my Master, sorry to say I’m out of the running as well.

Feng Shui: In the name of the Dragon Kings, can no-one help?

Abanazar: No my dear. (Unseen by Abanazar, Wun Hung enters stage right carrying the lamp, and creeps up behing Abanazar). Say goodbye to your beloved, it’s time for the rat to shuffle off his mortal coil.

Abanazar raises both arms and points them at Aladdin. He screams in pain. Suddenly Wun Hung raises the lamp and brings it down on Abanazar’s head. He falls unconscious to the ground, far stage right. Aladdin immediately starts to recover. Feng Shui rushes over to him.

Genie: Well I'll be a ding dong dang!

Slave: Wow, who’s the unexpected hero then Aladdin?

Aladdin: (Standing up seemingly fully recovered) He’s Abanazar’s servant, Wun Hung Lo. What brought that on then?

Wun Hung: I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and didn’t like the way that Abanazar was calling me things like fool and imbecile. So I guess I finally decided which side I’m on.

Feng Shui: (To audience) Well all I can say is – Hooray for Wun Hung Lo! Don’t you agree? (Audience interaction)

Aladdin: But what can we do with Abanazar now?

Genie: Well as he’s out cold, by definition you’ve become my Master again Al. So just say the word, and I’ll sort him out.

Aladdin: Sure thing Genie. “The word”. But what can we do? (Audience Interaction) I know, let’s send him back to the place he wanted to be more than anywhere else. The cave that contained the lamp and treasures. To consider all his wrong doings and crimes. For, shall we say, 50 years?

Genie : Half a century it is Al.

Effects, including strobe and sound. Abanazar is ‘carried’ into the cave. Lights down on desert, lights up on substage to reveal Abanazar banging at a pretend door.

Abanazar: You can’t do this to me. I am Abanazar, the Greatest Grandmaster of all time. Let me out of here………….

Cut lights on substage, lights up again on desert. Brighter now, to represent a new dawn.

Genie: A new dawn. A new start. How wonderful.

Wun Hung: But what is to happen to me?

Feng Shui: You are a good man, Wun Hung Lo. (Feng Shui and Aladdin walk stage front, arm in arm)

Aladdin: Indeed, I’m sure that your bravery and noble deeds will be rewarded in due course.

Feng Shui: And what now for us, Aladdin?

Aladdin: Well, as soon as we get back I’m going to ask your Father’s permission for us to marry!

Feng Shui: Oh my angel! (Kisses Aladdin on cheek – Genie and Slave now move forward)

Slave: And what now for us Genie?

Genie: (Downbeat) The same old routine I guess. An eternity of servitude.

Aladdin : (Turning to both) Oh no, not any more. You have changed my life and, indeed, the lives of so many people. As Master of both of you, I therefore decree that – well, I’m no longer your Master. You are both free to live your lives however you choose.

All : Hooray!!

Genie hugs Slave, before coyly remembering where he is.

Genie: Oops sorry about that, guess I got carried away with the moment.

Slave: Be quiet you. Come here (Pulls Genie into her face and places a kiss on his cheek)

Genie: Yabba, dabba, do!!!!!

Aladdin: OK folks, anyone fancy old Peking?

All: You betcha, etc.


Blackout.

Scene Seven

Palace as in 2:5. Lights up, Widow Twankey is walking around. Follow spot on Twankey as she moves centre stage to speak to the audience.

Twankey: Hello boys and girls. (Audience interaction) Well what a turn of events that proved to be, didn’t it? Now that awful man Abanazar has been banished, everyone is happy and plans for the wedding of Aladdin to the lovely Princess Feng Shui are well underway. And, as you know, Aladdin has given the Genie and the Slave their freedom. (Audience interaction) Yes, I know, he’s very magnanimous Magnus. Actually, I think it’s another excellent trait that he inherited from me!

By the way, if you’re wondering what I’m doing here in the Palace, well The Sultan insisted that I move in and have my own quarters. And I must say, since arriving I’ve met a gentlemen. No honestly I have. (Turns to wings) Oi, come ‘ere!! (Wun Hung Lo enters very deferentially stage left)

Now then, I believe you’ve got a rather bad reputation. (Wun Hung nods) Indeed I’ve been told that you’re a bit of an old curmudgeon, who doesn’t like spending his money. (Wun Hung nods again) Well let me tell you boys and girls, if I butter him up properly, I’ll certainly get Wun Hung Lo to splash out. Oh yes, since I arrived and put my feet down, trust me he’s like a little puppy dog. Isn’t that right Wunny?

Wun Hung: (Pants like a puppy with tongue wide out – then speaks) Yes my dear. Any chance of a bit of Twankey Pankey?

Twankey: Later. (Patting his head) If you’re a good boy. (To audience)

Wun Hung: (To audience) I do have to say that it’s amazing what Widow Twankey has done for me.

Twankey: Enough! Anyway, we’ve got a special treat for the audience, haven’t we?

Wun Hung: Indeed we have. Just before the finale we thought you might like to enjoy something a bit different. So it gives us great pleasure to introduce………..

Both: THE DANCE OF THE SEVEN FRAILS.

Both move to substage. Wun Hung to sing lead vocal

COMEDY SONG AND DANCE – AIN’T GOT NO (I GOT LIFE)

I ain't got no home, ain't got no shoes,
Ain't got no money, ain't got no class,
Ain't got no skirts, ain't got no sweater,
Ain't got no perfume, ain't got no beer,
Ain't got no mind.

I ain't got no mother, ain't got no culture,
Ain't got no lungs, ain't got no back,
Ain't got no hips, ain't got no knee,
Ain't got no teeth, ain't got no eyes
Ain't got no heart
What have I got?
Why am I alive anyway?
Yeah, what have I got?
Nobody can take away.

Got my hair, got my head,
Got my brains, got my ears,
Got my eyes, got my nose, got my mouth,
I got my smile.

I got my tongue, got my chin,
Got my neck, got my boobs,
Got my heart, got my soul, got my back,
I got my sex.

I got my arms, got my hands
Got my fingers, got my legs
Got my feet, got my toes, got my liver,
Got my blood

I've got life, I've got my freedom,
I've got life.
I've got life, and I'm gonna keep it,
I've got life, and nobody's gonna take it away,
I've got life.

At the end of the dance, Twankey and Wun Hung return to main stage for a very short piece of covering gubbins – final line to be:

Both: Bye everyone, bye…..

Blackout.


Scene Eight

Palace tabs out to reveal Market Square in darkness. Wearing a “Gospel” tabard, Aladdin enters stage left into spot and starts signing.

FINALE SONG – LIKE A PRAYER

Aladdin: Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone.
I hear you call my name, and it feels like home.

Backing singers, in tabards, enter. Music starts

All: When you call my name its like a little prayer,
I’m down on my knees, I want to take you there.
In the midnight hour I can feel your power,
Just like a prayer you know I’ll take you there.

Aladdin: I hear your voice, it’s like an angel sighing.
I have no choice, I hear your voice,
All: Feels like flying.
Aladdin: It’s like a dream, no end and no beginning
You’re here with me, its like a dream
Let the cast sing.

Cast enter from all available positions, to form a ‘choir’.

All: When you call my name its like a little prayer,
I’m down on my knees, I want to take you there.
In the midnight hour I can feel your power,
Just like a prayer you know I’ll take you there.

Aladdin: Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone.
I hear you call my name, and it feels like home.
Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there,
Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery.
Just like a dream, you are not what you seem,
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there.

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there,
Its like a dream to me.
Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there,
Its like a dream to me.

Curtain calls are now taken whilst the melody plays. When finished.

All: Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there,
Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery.
Just like a dream, you are not what you seem,
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there.

Blackout. Tabs In.

The End.

CURTAIN CALLS

1. The Seven Frails
2. Townspeople
3. Jeremy, Richard, James
4. K'anpo, Cho Je, Fu Peng
5. Commander, Hi Ho, Ho Hum
6. Nabob, Tai Rack, Lee Key, Wazir, Dingbat, Palace Children
7. Ping Pong, Dim Sum, No Pah King, Dum Gai, Sum Ting Wong, Mai Bee
8. Sultan, Sultana
9. Widow Twankey, Wun Hung Lo & Alassout
10.Genie & Slave
11.Abanazar
12.Aladdin & Feng Shui

The written word cannot even start to do justice to the final 2 scenes. So many pepel contributed to make the end of the show something very special indeed - a real highlight of my panto 'career', for want of a better word.

Our official photographer gave me 2 CD's containing no less than 275 photos, each 5 meg in size. So it's taken me a while to go through them but here, a good few days ahead of them going on our website, are some OW exclusives!


Abanazar and Wung Hun Lo - Don't Stop Me Now!








Princess Feng Shui listens to some sound parental advice.






Abanazar and Wun Hung Lo arrive at the house of Widow Twankey and her two children, Aladdin and Alassout.






Top Gear. The Stig is about to be revealed.

The cave of destiny awaits.................






The Slave pops out of Aladdin's ring to save the day!






And not long after, back at Twankey Towers, here comes The Genie of the Lamp!






The finale to Act One - Abanazar just can't decide whether to let Aladdin live or die.........




Act Two tomorrow!

Great pix, C=O.

Thanks Zoltar.


Act Two

The Commander of the Guard has a quiet word in Aladdin's ear.





Spot diagnosis.




Audience participation with The Genie, who didn't have his make up on for the final Dress Rehearsal!!!





New lamps for old.

*applause*

The DVD is nearly ready. It's a 2 disc set packed full of goodies.

Disc One runs 1 hour 2 minutes and contains:

Credits 2 minutes
Act One 1 hour

Disc Two runs 1 hour 33 minutes and contains:

Act Two 56 minutes
Thursday night speeches & post show footage 11 minutes
Additional extras 26 minutes

The extras include a couple of things specially filmed for the DVD, including one fronted by yours truly There's even a 'deleted scene', namely another night's Top Gear with a different Stig. And there's something at the very end that may terrify you to the core of your soul! :

If anyone is interested in purchasing this 'must see' release please PM me.

Today sees the premiere of the DVD and our re-union. It's good fun for everyone to watch the show for the first time together & on a big screen: and it's also a chance to give proper 'closure' to the show. The re-union is something I instigated back in 2005, as I felt it was all a bit rushed after the final show and would be nice to get everyone together for one final meet at a 'normal' rehersal time.

Once this afternoon is done and dusted we'll go on our merry ways, although of course many of us are friends outside of the Players and will be seeing each other at varying intervals.

So for "Aladdin" that will be that. The end of something that really was quite special - certainly for me at least!

All being well we'll come together again in September and start four months work on "Rapunzel". Although a few of us may have one or two things to do in the interim.

My DVD has arrived!

Be afraid, be very afraid - especially of the extras.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:Be afraid, be very afraid - especially of the extras.

Oooooooooooooooooh!

I presume you've had "the tour", and seen the surprise piece of singing at the end.

And Steve Pound getting custard pied - naturally!