Cochrane Vision Theatre is presenting the British pantomime (panto), Aladdin, as their fall feature production.
Aladdin runs at the Cochrane RancheHouse on the evening of Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. and during the afternoons of Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.; tickets are $15 each, $10 for children and are available at Bentleys Books or at the Cochrane Eagle office.
Director Lucy Mills said those attending will be impressed by the professionalism of the cast, comprised of 12 principle actors and 10 chorus players, a mix of adults and children.
“You would be hard-pressed to see which ones are which (experienced versus inexperienced actors),” said Mills. “We also have great choreography this year.”
Mills said a boost this year is the addition of newly-elected president, Lauren Hoines, whose extensive background in theatre and box office management has added a great deal to the group; Hoines is the assistant director and stage manager for Aladdin.
The director credits the hard work of her entire cast and crew, including Darlene Tilbury, whose diligent work on customer design, hair and makeup has been a welcome addition.
“The whole cast and crew deserves a big thank you . . . they’ve really pulled together and we’ve become a big family,” said Mills. “The dynamic among the adults and children is quite brilliant.”
Cochrane Vision Theatre is looking at not only increasing their community presence in the year to come, but also at expanding their number of adult and children’s features.
Mills said the group is working on a murder mystery, another British pantomime, a children’s feature, an adult’s variety show and a children’s variety show, among other possibilities for 2013.
The British pantomime has become a popular form of theatre, especially around Christmas time, involving slapstick humour, cross-dressing, song, dance, buffoonery and mild sexual innuendo.
Last year’s Vision Theatre British panto production, Cinderella, was a hit with Cochrane audiences.
“I think Cochrane has come around and is warm to pantos,” said theatre president, Lauren Hoines.
Mills said audience members can also look forward to random appearances from 17-year-old Harry Potter look-alike, James Stead, throughout the panto.
Even though Harry Potter isn’t a scripted Aladdin character, Mills thought it was too uncanny of a resemblance to pass up and has incorporated the character into the production.
