Show goes on despite big freeze

Published Date: 14 January 2010

THE big freeze has taken its toll on Brighouse Theatre Productions' pantomime 'Aladdin' – but the show goes on.

Deep snowdritfts and icy roads have meant that cast members have frequently found it impossible to attend rehearsals for the show and several have been cancelled.

Organisers have decided that the show will go on but there will be two fewer evening shows to give more time for the cast to perfect their performances. 'Aladdin' will now run at Brighouse Civic Hall from January 28 to 30 at 7.15pm. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 2.15pm.

Theatre group chairman Richard Mitchell said: "With the bad weather we thought it would be a good idea to use the extra time for more rehearsals in the hope of getting larger audiences towards the end of the week.

"We don't make these decisions lightly but with so many children involved in the show we thought it would be the best thing to do. If people have already bought tickets for one of the nights that have been cancelled they will be able to transfer them to another night.

By doing this we are giving the cast a bit longer to rehearse and to concentrate on giving four excellent performances."

Mr Mitchell said he could remember occasions where individual performances had been affected by heavy snow but he thought it was the first time organisers of a show in Brighouse had been forced to alter the dates due to bad weather.

Cevin Barker, who stepped in at the last minute to play Widow Twankey, has been struggling to rehearsals from Castleford.

He has been appearing in shows since 1983 when he was one of the workhouse boys in a production of 'Oliver!' in Wakefield.

He landed his first major role as Ali Hakim in 'Oklahoma!' with Brighouse Theatre Productions in October. Just before Christmas Cevin was backstage manager and sound manager - as well as playing the Goose - in 'Mother Goose' in Barnsley when he got the call asking him to play the role of the dame in 'Aladdin'.

"I asked the producer if he thought I could play a dame and on the strength of his reply, I agreed to do it. I've wanted to have a go at this part for a while and I'm really looking forward to it."

Dancers from the PM Gibson School of Theatre Dance will take part in the show, produced by Tony Hiley, and the cast also includes Emily Bowers, Helen Wrigglesworth, Robert Longward and John Murphy.

Tickets at £10 for adults and £7 for senior citizens and children can be booked on 01484 402435 or bought at Brighouse Civic Hall this Saturday and on Saturday January 23 from 10am to 12.30pm or on Monday January 18, Wednesday January 20, Friday January 22, Monday January 25 and Wednesday Janaury 27 from 11 am to 3pm. Evening performances start at 7.15pm and the Saturday matinee begins at 2.15pm