Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
January/February 2005

Home
Current issue
Previous issues
Noticeboard
Discussion board
About CTiB

Reviews

Barnes Charity Players in Aladdin
at the Kitson Hall

With a thunderous flash the Genie of The Ring, Loraine Budgen, and the dastardly Abanazer, Paul Phillips, leapt out and warned us of the strange events that would occur. Then what an array of characters appeared and such a tale they had to tell! They included Window Twankey, Ian Glennie, whose crinolines and exuberance filled the stage; a cruel and obsequious Grand Vizier, Patrick Findlater, with a calculating and dissembling Not-The-Grand Vizier, Nick Phillips; an Irish Genie, Fergus O'Kelly, and a despotic and fearsome Tartar, Patrick Van den Bergh. The Little Jewels beguiled us while the Princess, Pippa Gatwood, and her gorgeous attendants plus Aladdin, Jo Blayney, lightly costumed to delight the ladies, supplied the youth and beauty.

Bejewelled Emperors and Princes and their retinues, decked in finest silks and brocades, progressed through bustling market places and magnificent palaces as Darrol Blake, Roger Stillman, Sue Squire and their helpers re-imagined the splendour of Old Cathay. Great structures appeared in an instant only to be whisked away to the End-of-Time before our very eyes. We, the dazzled audience, could only gasp in astonishment, with lapses into laughter, tears, clapping, hissing, booing and snatches of song.

Aladdin was Creina Foy's finest creation at the Kitson Hall. This was a tribute to her and wonderful to see again after fifteen years. Under Fergus's direction there were many of the old reprobates though also some very welcome newcomers in the cast.

John Deards

Back to the top

Animal Farm – Barnes Youth Theatre

The Barnes Youth Theatre excelled themselves when they produced Animal Farm. The audience was captivated from start to finish, and felt deeply involved, not to say enchanted with the animals and the symbolism.

Talking to the Narrator afterwards, it had been a great learning experience for them and they put the same interpretations into the story as we did when we read it in the Sixties, and not much in human nature seems to have changed... power can corrupt and if you tell a lie persistently, people will eventually believe it; idealists are always pushed out by those whose motivation is power. Peter Hall's version came with the historical allegories and the youthful cast were as moved by it all as we once were.

The Barnes Youth Theatre is an impressive act; the young enjoy themselves and learn to work together and be considerate of others and what an opportunity to make friends in Barnes!

Rosie Findlater

Back to the top