Bolton School Year 6 Junior Boys’ production of Aladdin transported audiences to a ‘whole new world’. The show ran over three nights and is reviewed here by parent Mrs Knight:
‘The show was confidently opened by The Genie, Ethan Brandon, with his impressive expression and intonation and supported by the full cast who clearly were enjoying immersing themselves in their characters. There were lots of strong vocals in Arabian Nights, which was well choreographed.
‘Aladdin, played by Hashim Abbas and his three friends, Kassim, Babkak and Omar, played by Mukundh Mahdu Shankar, Harlan Moore and Ross McVay, were superbly cast. From start to finish, Hashim’s Aladdin carried the title character with effortless style. He also brought touches of real tenderness to the performance, most noticeably during his heartfelt rendition of Proud of Your Boy.
‘Kassim lit up the stage with his infectious smile and amazingly suited beard. Babkak and his constant references to food not only created laughs but also drummed up business for the PA's delicious cakes during the interval. Omar was a natural actor who delivered punchlines with ease and clarity. The interaction between all these characters, along with elements of comedy, was outstanding and not to forget their vocal talents showcased in One Jump Ahead, an extremely polished performance.
The Sultan, played by Theo Marsden, needed no head mic due to his fantastic projection. A very expressive and mature performance. Jasmine, played by Aaron Pierson and his ‘bevy of beauties,” played by Alex Stivaros, Joshua Haston and George Pearson, bravely took on female roles and managed to maintain their characters throughout, along with taming those long, luscious locks. Superb breath control was shown, allowing them all to reach those high notes.
‘Yusuf Hajee totally embraced the evil characteristics whilst playing Jafar. No sound effects needed - his voice was exceptional. His two side-kicks, playing the role of Iago (Fayzan Raza and Zayd Mahomed) added elements of humour and sarcasm which were perfectly timed.
‘I can now reveal that the man inside the cloak was none other than…. Wilfred Mathieson. Oozing with eeriness, he delivered his spooky lines well. The voice of the Cave of Wonders was that of Ali Hasan. Echoey sound effects created a mysterious, cave-like environment.
‘The scene changes throughout the play were slick and seamless, with scenery looking realistic and produced to the highest quality. It was clearly obvious that a lot of time and energy had been put into the set design. Closing the first half was The Genie, played by Max Knight. An expressive and vivacious performance which matched his fabulous costume (designed by Mrs Humphreys). The Ge-nie and ensemble brought a real crescendo just before the interval which left you wanting more. Superb choreography which even involved a few drum fills where The Genie could show off his “phenomenal cosmic powers.”
‘The second half commenced with a reminder of the wish rules and then off we went, with Prince Ali and his entourage on his triumphant return to Agrabah. A powerful performance led by the entourage and performed by the whole cast. The iconic duet, A Whole New World, was sung beautifully and enhanced with props as Prince Ali and Jasmine glided through the “endless, diamond sky.” The ‘High Adventure,’ fight scene was realistic and intricately choreographed with every boy fully committed to his role.
‘The finale was exciting with Aladdin and Jasmine finally achieving their ‘Happily Ever After,’ Jafar and Iago getting their comeuppance and the Genie gaining his freedom. Just as we all thought the show was over, we were treated to a round of curtain bows and an all singing and dancing finale. This breath-taking finish led to rapturous applause.
‘The highlight of the evening was seeing how every boy thoroughly enjoyed his part in the production and worked together as a team.
‘Thank you to everyone involved in making this production possible. A truly phenomenal performance which left us all wanting to see more.’
Head of the Junior Boys’ School, Mrs Faulkner, said: ‘The Year 6 boys rose to the occasion over three performances and put on a terrific show for us all—we may have some stars of the future amongst our ranks. I would like to thank all staff who supported the show and everyone who came along to watch, but I reserve special mention for the Year 6 team comprising Mrs Brisk, Mr Porter, Mr Livesley and Mrs Hunt. Also, a special thanks to the Chair of our Parents’ Association, Mrs Jones, who valiantly manned the refreshments stall each evening.’
View a gallery of photos from the evening here:
