‘It’s like a seriously complicated military operation’
Cast and crew prepare to bring panto to life
Published:
THAT’S not frost that’s been dusting His Majesty’s Theatre these past few days ... it’s fairy dust, OH YES IT IS!
In a rehearsal room in the depths of HMT, some real magic is happening as a talented crew work together to bring this year’s panto, Peter Pan, to life.
Dancers go through their steps until they are foot perfect.
Our own Peter Pan, Keith Jack, is crossing swords with Alan Fletcher’s Captain Hook, repeating the moves slowly and carefully to ensure they can create a realistic fight scene, concentration etched on their faces.
Alan McHugh and Jordan Young fine tune the verbal swordplay that made them such a smash hit with Aberdeen’s panto audiences last year.
As they do, dancers limber up in the corner.
Neighbours legend Fletch and Joseph star Keith, no longer fighting, pore over script changes.
It’s early in the morning, the crew are in casual clothes, preparing for a run through of the show from start to finish.
The atmosphere is relaxed, but the attention to detail and the concentration on the job in hand is intense.
It has to be, because in just four days the curtain goes up on Peter Pan and everyone involved wants the panto to be simply magic, complete with jaw-dropping flying sequences and stunning laser effects.
Director Alan Cohen said: “This kind of show in the West End would have a minimum of five or six weeks to rehearse. We have five days.
“That means this is like a seriously complicated military operation.”
Alan, who directed last year’s record-breaking panto Aladdin, likened his role to that of a football team manager, bringing all the elements.
“My job is to set the tone of the show and an atmosphere where everyone is having fun working, because if we’re not having fun, the audience is not having fun.”
And the cast are having fun, judging from their easy banter, the smiles, the funny faces when a line is fluffed.
Those watching from the sidelines can’t help but grin as Alan and Jordan launch into a glittering riff of one liners.
And they boo as Fletch waves his hook and sword as a menacing Hook – even if he is in a T-shirt.
If the reaction from a handful of onlookers is anything to go buy, Peter Pan – sponsored by the Evening Express – is going to be a belter of a panto to match the acclaimed Aladdin.
Alan Cohen knows he has his work cut out after the success of last year’s panto and its 3D Bogglevision.
He said: “This year we will have certain flying effects which have never been done before in the history of His Majesty’s – I won’t say too much because I don’t want to ruin it for the audience.
“Last year, I thought Aberdeen audiences went through the roof for Aladdin.
“This year my job is to up the stakes a bit and I think we can do that.
“I hope the audience will go even further through the roof and further off the edge of their chairs.”
WHY I’m hooked on Aberdeen .. by panto star Alan Fletcher. Read it in the What’s On Guide, free in your Evening Express on Thursday.
