"....AND the gong goes to.....Upstagers for the scenery, costumes, lighting and amazing special effects in Aladdin".

Ilkley's talented Youth Theatre group have delivered yet another fabulous fun-packed family pantomime to the King's Hall. All the magical ingredients are there, but the transformations are something else. I counted 16 major scene changes, each one achieved within seconds and in total blackout.

The glittering Cave of Jewels appears as if by magic, but the piece de resistance is surely the floating magic carpet bearing Aladdin and the Princess high above the stage.

Important though illusion is to pantomime, the characters on stage are even more so. A remarkable thing is that Upstagers have assembled their youngest-ever pantomime cast. Elliot Broadfoot again plays the Dame in a mind boggling array of fantastically glamorous costumes. Elliot's Widow Twankey is a wondrous singing, dancing, bad joke-telling creation who combines the allure of Marilyn Monroe with the earthiness of Vera Duckworth. Upstagers' 'resident' villain, George Scaife, is the super-smooth maniacal and evil mastermind, Abanazer. The adults and kids love to hiss and boo his every entrance. Alycia Booth as Aladdin and Hattie Dibb as Princess Jasmine both sing sweetly.

Some of the youngest cast members display a flair for traditional pantomime comedy: Joey Wilby gets the laughs and clearly enjoys himself as Wishy Washy. Seventeen year-old Alex Wright and fifteen year-old Benny Hick play PC Pang and PC Pong - Peking's most incompetent policemen. Fourteen year-old Emma Whittaker-Pitts is an appealing Slave of the Ring and Katherine Griffiths gives a strong performance as the Genie of the Lamp. Sammy Foster makes a promising principal debut as Sallah, Abanazer's amiable henchman. Harry Hodge gives the Emperor of China an imposing presence and Olivia Hoddy is charming as So Shi. The delightful animal characters include Sam Webster's endearing Nobby the Panda. There are even some big, roaring dinosaurs.

The writing and production team of John Clark and Andrew Hewitt, choreographer Laura Williams, musical director Phil Walsh and a multi-talented cast have created a spectacular and engaging production.

Aladdin continues at the King's Hall until Saturday, February 3.

by Geoffrey Mogridge