C=O proudly presents 'Aladdin'

Post away to your hearts content mq.

I continue to love the vibrant colours and bold lines of your classic panto sets.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:

Tickets are now on sale folks, and I know that some of you have expressed an interest in coming to watch. It would be great to have a Wrinkly gathering at one of the performances.

I'd be up for a Wrinklie gathering for this in the New Year. Can't do it before Christmas alas as it seems the landlord of the Lass, the lovely Gareth, which hosted the recent Northern Wrinklies Drinkies is keen to get us round for a Christmas gathering and I'm going to be busy at work till the 19th and then will have to go hell for leather with Xmas preparations. But the New Year would be lovely, Tony!

Show dates are 8th, 9th and 10th January Frank, so that should fit in seamlessly with your plans.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:Show dates are 8th, 9th and 10th January Frank, so that should fit in seamlessly with your plans.

Then I suggest, it is time to circulate your cunning masterplan to the assembled Wrinklies. I could possibly do the 9th and definitely the 10th.

I could probably make it to the Saturday matinee - would it be particularly complicated by tube from Victoria?

No. District or Circle line to Notting Hill Gate, Central Line to Greenford. Turn right out of the station, 5 minutes walk.

Seems manageable enough...

Does anyone else fancy the afternoon matinee? We could get together for a pint afterwards .

The venue has 2 bars, one of which will be open from 12.30pm right through till late night - there will also be bar food available before shows.

Bloody hell, have I become a salesman for GSK Leisure Club?


Multimap:

www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=&countryCode=GB#map=51.53777,-0.34938|16|4&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:51.53777:-0.34938:16|ub6%208qd|UB6%208QD

the evil queen bee

a hench bee and goldilocks in a still from an 80's french movie

your humble Scottish correspondent on the right

Those photos are certainly the bees knees...............

i'm up for "aladdin" i've seen a few pantos over the years but only involving the likes of adam woodyatt and jordan...could make the saturday- i may be somewhat overhung though...

Good stuff Barnaby. So those interested to date are Frank (& Geoff?), Colin and yourself.

Scene Nine

Desert scrim, medium lit. Abanazar is pacing about. Wun Hung Lo slinks on and goes up to the wizard.

Wun Hung: What is it Master? You don’t seem to be your normal, wonderful self.

Abanazar: My senses have been disturbed since we returned here to Morocco. Having said that, you know how solid my character is. I am a rock.

Wun Hung: Has your anger about what happened at the cave still not abated?

Abanazar: (Loudly) Abated? Abated??? No Wun Hung. Indeed I’m even more furious about the train of events.

Wun Hung: Why is that Master, leaves on the line?

Abanazar: (Patting Wun Hung on shoulder) Because, my faithful servant, I have been studying the sands.

Wun Hung: Really, is it a good book?

Abanazar: (Slapping Wun Hung) No you fool, I have been seeing what has happened in Old Peking.

Wun Hung: Oh sorry Master, what has happened there?

Abanazar: (Seemingly growing in stature) It appears that duplicitous ragamuffin Aladdin is still alive. (get audience to cheer!)

Wun Hung: Alive? But surely you sealed him in that cave?

Abanazar: Aladdin somehow summoned the Slave of the Ring, who enabled him to escape. With the treasure. He now has great wealth and, even more to the point, the one thing that I desired. The Lamp.

Wun Hung: What are you going to do boss?

Abanazar: What are we going to do more like. Well let me tell you Wun Hung. We shall return to China. The Lamp and the treasure shall be mine. I will reclaim it from that lowlife Aladdin by whatever means are necessary. (To audience) Oh yes, and when I’ve finished I’ll have a decision to make - whether to let him live or die. Right now, I just can’t decide. Bwahahahahahahahaha.

Three backing singers enter stage right. Cue Music.

SONG – I CAN’T DECIDE

Abanazar & Wung Hung: It's not easy having yourself a good time,
Greasing up those bets and betters,
Watching out they’re not go-getters.
Hug and kiss you both at the same time,
Smells-like something I've forgotten,
Curled up died and now it's rotten,

Abanazar: I'm not a gangster tonight,
Don't want to be a bad guy,
I'm just a loner baby,
And now you've got in my way.

All: I can't decide whether you should live or die,
Oh you'll probably go to heaven,
Please don't hang your head and cry.
No wonder why, my heart feels dead inside,
It's cold and hard and petrified,
Lock the doors and close the blinds,
We're going for a ride.

Abanazar & Wun Hung: It's so tough convincing people to like you,
If I stop now call me a quitter,
If lies were cats you'd be a litter.
Pleasing everyone isn't like you,
Dancing jigs until I'm crippled,
Slug ten drinks I won't get pickled.

Abanazar: I've got to hand it to you,
You've played by all the same rules.
It takes the truth to fool me,
And now you've made me angry.

All: I can't decide whether you should live or die,
Oh you'll probably go to heaven,
Please don't hang your head and cry.
No wonder why, my heart feels dead inside,
It's cold and hard and petrified,
Lock the doors and close the blinds,
We're going for a ride.

Abanazar: Oh I could throw you in the lake,
Or feed you poisoned birthday cake,
I won’t deny I'm gonna miss you when you're gone.
Oh I could bury you alive,
But you might crawl out with a knife,
And kill me when I'm sleeping,
That's why.

All: I can't decide whether you should live or die,
Oh you'll probably go to heaven,
Please don't hang your head and cry.
No wonder why, my heart feels dead inside,
It's cold and hard and petrified,
Lock the doors and close the blinds,
We're going for a ride.

Blackout.

End of Act One.

A couple of necessary changes to the lyrics, but the Act One finale song has been going down a storm at rehearsals, and I've got great hopes for it!

Right, the bar.

Some photos from last Sunday's rehearsals.


Abanazar and Wung Hung Lo Can't Decide!







Top Gear - The Stig seems to have a cone on his head, whilst Clarkson is doubled over in laughter.





The Dance of the Seven Frails.............





Oops - you don't know about that yet!!

ACT TWO

Scene One

House lights down. No entrac’te. Instead the keyboards and drums strike up with an extended introduction for the opening number of Act Two. Tabs out to reveal the Market Square, lights low. The cast are in place. On the cue word “sun” bright lights up.

SONG – MR. BLUE SKY

The sun is shining in the sky,
There ain't a cloud in sight,
It's stopped raining, everybody's in a play,
And don't you know it's a beautiful new day, hey.

Running down the avenue,
See how the sun shines brightly
In the city on the streets where once was pity,
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey.

Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why,
You had to hide away,
For so long (so long) where did we go wrong?
Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why,
You had to hide away
For so long (so long) where did we go wrong?

Hey you with the pretty face,
Welcome to the human race, a celebration,
Mr. Blue Sky's up there waiting and today,
Is the day we've waited for.

Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why,
You had to hide away,
For so long (so long) where did we go wrong?
Hey there Mr. Blue, we're so pleased to be with you,
Look around see what you do,
Everybody smiles at you.
Hey there Mr. Blue, we're so pleased to be with you,
Look around see what you do,
Everybody smiles at you.

Mr. Blue you did it right,
But soon comes Mr. Night,
Creeping over, now his hand is on your shoulder,
Never mind, I'll remember you this, I'll remember you this way.

Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why,
You had to hide away,
For so long (so long) where did we go wrong?
Hey there Mr. Blue, we're so pleased to be with you,
Look around see what you do,
Everybody smiles at you. SMILES AT YOU!

K’anpo: Aladdin, your generosity knows no bounds.

Cho Je: Indeed, just look at all the happy faces around here.

Fu Peng: (Looking out into the audience) Apart from this lot perhaps, especially now the bar in here has closed!

Aladdin: Nah, they’re fine. (To audience) Hiya Gang! (Audience interaction) You lot want to find out what’s going to happen, don’t you? Anyway, the point is, there’s so much treasure that even Mum couldn’t make a dent into it. And I’ve really been more than happy to share it with everyone.

Dum Gai: Yeah, but the Commander of the Guard as well?

Sum Ting: He’s hardly our mate Al!

Mai Bee: Absolutely not – he’s been rotten to us over the years.

Aladdin: Guys, it’s time to let bygones be bygones and move on.

Commander of the Guard moves forward.

Commander: (To Aladdin) I must say Aladdin – I badly misjudged you. I thought you were simply a no good troublemaker but, hands up, I was wrong.

Hi Ho: Hey, Ho Hum, did you hear that? The Boss admitted he was wrong.

Ho Hum: Blimey whatever next?

Commander: Come on now, I know that Aladdin has even handed out some jollies to you.

Ping Pong: Really? Have you gone mad Aladdin?

Aladdin: Not at all. I told Mum way back in Act One, Scene Three that I was going to turn over a new leaf, and I’ve proved true to my word.

Dim Sum: He’s right you know.

No Pah King: I wonder if anyone else has influenced him.

Commander: (Moving over to Aladdin) Aladdin, may I have a quick chat please? (Ragamuffins move closer to overhear conversation).

Aladdin: But I haven’t done anything wrong, honest!

Commander: I know, those days are well and truly in the past. Now what it is, I’ve been so impressed by your actions that I’ve decided you should accompany me and the lads to the Palace.

Aladdin: (Worried) What for?

Commander: I wanted to let the Sultan himself know all about your good work.

Ragamuffins now interject. Commander and Aladdin listen to what they say.

Dum Gai: Cor, did you hear that? Aladdin’s going to the Palace.

Sum Ting: Do you think he’ll get a Knighthood?

Mai Bee: No Silly! But you never know who he might get to meet there…….

Aladdin: What – do you mean?

Ping Pong: I sure do. Princess Feng Shui herself!

Dim Sum: Yup, after all, that’s where she lives nowadays.

No Pah King: Who knows what could happen?

Aladdin: (Excitedly to audience) Oh boys and girls, can you believe it! Not only am I going to the Palace, I might just even get to meet the girl of my dreams. What do you reckon, should I go? (Audience Interaction). Well that’s a “yes” then. Wish me luck! (Turns to Commander). Come on then Commander, there’s no time like the present. Let’s go!

Commander: Alright then lads, let’s be off!

Commander, Guards and Aladdin march off stage right, Aladdin waving to the audience. The Townspeople wave back.

Blackout. Tabs In.


Act Two takes place one week after Act One and opens with a great, bouncy number that just about everyone knows (and loves?). However the last verse of Blue Sky actually warns of the impending return of Abanazar...........

An Outpost Wrinkly exclusive.The finale to Act One. As performed in rehearsal last Sunday.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:An Outpost Wrinkly exclusive.The finale to Act One. As performed in rehearsal last Sunday.

Cool, exclusive footage. Clearly, the OW (!!!) is the place to be.

The Co=Ordinator wrote:Good stuff Barnaby. So those interested to date are Frank (& Geoff?), Colin and yourself.

The Saturday matinee would be doable for us and propping up the bar would seem a bit of a bonus too! I shall consult with the great Geoffrey...

OK guys, so that looks like Frank, Geoff, Colin and Barnaby for 2.30pm on 10th January. Any more for this unique Wrinkly Event? Remember the venue, which is only 5 minutes walk from Greenford Underground Station, has two bars which will be open from lunchtime till late!!

The Co=Ordinator wrote:An Outpost Wrinkly exclusive.The finale to Act One. As performed in rehearsal last Sunday.

I should have brought my headphones! I'm sitting here at a Panera Bread restaurant watching this clip, and I'm having to keep the volume down out of deference for everyone else around me.

It looked brilliant, C=O, and from what I could hear, it sounded pretty good, too. I'll have to re-watch this later with full volume.

What I would say is that our MD had his keyboard up very loud. And Abanazar and Wung Hung Lo (and the backing singers) were not miced. And yet you could hear them clear as anything. Which is a great compliment to them.

Dennis & Tom (Ab/Wun Hung) are doing the most incredible job for me - fab harmonies on I Can't Decide BTW. As an example, last week Tom had a stinking cold and cough, but he still came to a 3 1/2 hour rehearsal and sung shed loads. You can see he's struggling as he has to break off to cough every 30 seconds or so, but that doesn't stop him. Even more amazingly, less than an hour before we started last Sunday, Tom cut his hand on a glass he was washing up at home. After we'd finished he had to go to hospital and had 6 stitches inserted. Absolute bloddy trooper!

I've really got high expectations for this show. Perhaps too high. Fingers crossed they're not!

The Co=Ordinator wrote:I've really got high expectations for this show. Perhaps too high. Fingers crossed they're not!

Knowing you, C=O, your expectations will be met with relative ease. In fact, I'm wondering how you're going to top this next year.

I've spent the past 11 months wondering how I can even match, let alone top, "Puss In Boots". It's only in the last 2 weeks that I've believed it possible.

As for next year - well time will tell, it always does: but I've got the most ambitious plans ever for my final script........

The Co=Ordinator wrote:I've spent the past 11 months wondering how I can even match, let alone top, "Puss In Boots". It's only in the last 2 weeks that I've believed it possible.

As for next year - well time will tell, it always does: but I've got the most ambitious plans ever for my final script........

*is now curious*

Just a few teasers Zoltar.

* My final Pantomime is planned to be Rapunzel.
* Music to include the title song from "Hair" and also "Smoke on the Water".

* There will be an heroic battle against the most evil villain of all time, that will feature "The Children on Pantomime".