CHERITON Fitzpaine Drama Club is currently holding its annual pantomime - this time - "Aladdin" by Ben Crocker, taking place at the Parish Hall.

Performances were held last weekend and continue again this coming weekend (Friday and Saturday).

One of the lead roles is Abanazar, played by a wonderfully and quite uncharacteristically villainous Roger Bellamy, whose young son, Hugh, is a "Goodie", the Genie of the Ring.

Charlotte French, by now an accomplished actress, was a very hearty Aladdin, in love with the Emperor’s daughter, Holly Metcalf, a most attractive Princess Jasmine. The Emperor is played by Holly’s real-life mother, Julia.

Cheerful Richard Chapple plays Wishee Washy, and Joan Jenner plays the cunning Panda - master of non-verbal communication, Nobby.

Paul Spear is The Dame, Widow Twankey, who appears in an amazing variety of colourful costumes, including different coloured stockings and flounced among the audience looking for potential husbands!

Comic twosome, Sergeant Ping and Constable Pong, are played by Neve Hall and Lottie Mannion, both 14, and destined for acting fame. Vicky Lancelles is the genie of the lamp, an amazing vision to appear from an old and dirty lamp. Younger members of the cast act as villagers and sprites, and are especially good in ultraviolet lighting.

The panto is produced by David Pink, who also co-ordinated the scene painters and shifters.

Deniece Kingdon organised the costumes, and the amazing make-up by Sarah Steele. Performance directors are Geoffrey Burchmore and Roger Bellamy. It could not take place without David Sims and his versatile keyboard from which he seems able to conjure up the most amazing sounds!

Prompter, Lesley Rogers, thankfully was not kept too busy.

At the beginning of the evening, Geoffrey Burchmore announced the recent death of the much-loved Jan Thom, who had been a member of the Club for many years.

Her funeral is to be held in Bickleigh Parish Church on Friday, February 14 at 1pm, with refreshments in Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Hall.

Further performances of “Aladdin” take place tonight, Friday, January 31, at 7.30pm and tomorrow, Saturday, February 1, also at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available from Cheriton Fitzpaine Community Shop or from the Parish Hall (when the Post Office is operating).

There will be a licensed bar, refreshments and a raffle.

Mary Nunn