ALI BABA & the BONGO BANDITS

PADOS Theatre Group – Juniors

 

Director: Jack Martin

Musical Director: Helen Wilkinson

Choreography: Emily Richardson & Amanda Ernest

 

This presentation by this ACT in Training group was their third of Craig Hawes funny and very entertaining entertainments. This parody of an “Arabian Nights” story is colourfully told with crazy characters, such as Humphrey, the Camel, and BooBoo, the Monkey.

 

 

It is full of Eastern Promise, mystical mayhem together with catchy songs and the best of pantomime jokes so that it appeals to all ages.

All this was set against interchanging backcloths and the minimum of props. This gave the cast of over 30 maximum performing space. All the other elements of lighting, sound, costumes added to the overall effect.

 

 

The members of the creative team were also the young student mentors. The production was brought about through weekly workshops building into rehearsals. By doing this the company is teaching its members basic theatre skills, and turning the youngsters into a cast which collectively displayed confidence and pride in their work. That there had been hard work was evident and the result of this hard work was rewarded in the performances.

 

 

The company scenes were effective and as they had all the necessary energy  in place, the story was brought alive.  There wasn’t any fidgeting or shuffling amongst the cast members.  Each of them knew what was expected of them, and they all gave pleasing performances.

Even though this was a first time experience for some of the company, they newcomers did not stand out, and they were contributing to the active team work.

 

 

The difficulty of delivering a joke/funny line is well documented but there were no problems here, these youngsters delivered the lines well, and the audience responded.

 

 

Each performer created an interesting character showing an understanding of the script. The words of the songs were important as well as being fun they were all meaningfully put across.

 

 

Theatrically so much was achieved; their company members enthusiasm was also an important factor. From where they started, to what they have achieved as the curtain fell, endorses the important work PADOS is doing in introducing youth into the arts.