Sinbad Rules the Waves!

It’s easy to see how the Woldingham Pantomime will be celebrating 60 successful years in 2007/8… that is if you were one of the hundreds of residents who whooped, cheered and jeered at this year’s production of ‘Sinbad the Sailor’. If you weren’t there, then you missed one of the most enjoyable and professional shows that has entertained our little community!

It’s been a while since the salt air and crashing waves swept over the Village Hall, not since 1976 in fact, and it brought with it a freshness and air of excitement that totally submerged the audience under its spell… as well as ‘under the sea’. The show opened with a captivating UV scene under the sea, in the realm of the Spirit of the Sea, played wonderfully kindly and warmly by Kate Gardner. This magical opening was beautifully performed by some 20 local children all choreographed by newcomer Lisa Richardson and they immediately stole our hearts. Special lighting effects from Andrew Kozminski and his team, and amazing magical costumes from Marian Szafranski helped transform the stage into a wonderful magical kingdom. The audience was immediately enthralled and was soon transported to the land of the Arabian Nights, and to Sillibillibad, Sinbad’s not-so-clever brother.

Returning to this comic role was old favourite Ziggi Szafranski, probably for the last time (for a while at least, as university beckons). Together with his mum Mrs Sinbad, played again to perfection by James Peacock, they kept the audience on its toes (sometimes quite literally) and exhausted through laughter. With pretty, thigh-slapping newcomer Louise Wilkinson in the Principal Boy role of Sinbad, this core group had such a strong rapport with each other that the show couldn’t fail to entertain… that and the profusion of sweeties offered as prizes to the working audience. It was a fast-paced, thrilling, funny and sad piece of traditional pantomime that had audiences coming back for more.

The story was a simple one: Sinbad wants to marry Princess Ruby (played innocently yet petulantly by Stephanie Hornett) but her mother the Calipha of Bagdad, sternly played by Rebecca Mills, will only marry her to a rich man. Unfortunately, Sinbad was tricked into losing everything he, his brother and his mother own to the evil corsair Cassim. Returning to the role of villain was another favourite Tony Dent, and his evil presence was played brilliantly and worked off our unlucky trio so well. At times, he even had an old soul like me worried for Sinbad’s well being.

Leaving behind his love, and her sister Fatima - the love of Sillibillibad (charmingly played by Krysia Szafranski), and given only a month to prove his wealth, Sinbad and family embark on a series of adventures, constantly hampered by Cassim and his evil pirates. Luckily for them they had the Spirit of the Sea and the audience on their side. Everything you’d want to see in a panto was there for young and old, from the fear and excitement, to the gags and slapstick… especially when naughty Mickey the Monkey appeared (played very funnily and energetically by Abbey Martin) to cause trouble for poor Sillibillibad.

The perils and jokes were thick and fast, and the costumes were stunning, especially the Dame’s assortment of dresses and hats - in particular the grass-skirt and coconut-shell ensemble which had to be seen to be believed. I understand that there were about 300 costumes made by Marian and her helpers, and they helped maintain the illusions and gags throughout the show, and were particularly effective for the children who populated and danced throughout the show as villagers and pirates, native folk and ‘hoodies’, and who were particularly menacing as the Diamond Queen’s diamond minions, which in itself was a sparklingly wicked performance from Sarah Greenwood.

As well as the excellent performing and choreography, stunning costumes and lighting, the show also boasted fantastic sets and stunts. The Valley of the Diamonds was particularly impressive with its sheer rock faces and scattering of diamonds, adding great menace and threat to Sinbad from Sarah as the Diamond Queen. Ingenious too were the palm trees and flying Roc, not to mention the elephant and tree-felling gags. I kid you not, all these were masterfully played and totally convincing (in that pantomime kind of way), especially poor Cassim’s final demise, to be swallowed whole on stage by a sea monster! An impressive athletic feat from Tony. Particularly exciting were the flights of Sinbad, not only was he cleverly flown away in a balloon, but to see him take off like a rocket hanging from the Roc’s feet was quite spectacular… praise indeed for Simon Aggiss and his crew.

All in all this was a panto that everyone involved should be proud of, from helpers to backstage, from production team to performers. Lastly, but not least, the quality of the performance was as good as any ‘professional’ show I’ve seen, and thanks for this must also go to the director Barbara O’Neill, choreographer Lisa Richardson and musician extraordinaire Helen Brymer who together helped bring out such wonderful performances. I look forward to next year’s anniversary production. Happy birthday Woldingham Pantomime, let’s hope you continue to entertain us for another 60 years.