It's show time for panto and evaluation...

We have now successfully performed all 6 shows of Aladdin to several different audiences. On each performance we did all get different responses. On the day of our first matinee show I was really nervous as was some of the other cast members as it was the first time we had performed our panto to a public audience. Before the show we as a cast underwent some warm-up exercises which included some basic stretches like chewing, tongue twisters such as 'Unique New York' and little rhymes such as Jack and Jill. We also underwent some vocal warm-ups such as Robin Hood.  I did feel our first show was good and we did an overall good response. However I did feel we could of picked up the pace a little in some scenes and made them a lot more sharper.


As we performed more shows the better it got I thought as we were getting bigger audiences, bigger reactions and bigger responses. I did feel that I definitely went for it in the shows because I was more engaged with what was going on in the scenes and I thought I had more energy in the chorus numbers too. I also felt more comfortable and relaxed in the dances. On one of the evening shows we as a cast met actress Barbara Windsor as she was in our audience. It was really nice meeting 'Babs' after the show and it was nice hearing that she enjoyed our show too.


Overall I felt all of the performances went really well and I thoroughly enjoyed. But now that they are all over I do think I will miss performing Aladdin as it was really tough for me and it was something that was out of my comfort zone but I like to think that, that is the best part as you should always try out new things that aren't in your comfort zone. We have now watched back our entire panto from start to finish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WPatzt2-UTY It was really interesting watching our pantomime back as we could see how the show went in an audience's point of view. It was also interesting to see what we looked liked on stage as well.


I can remember first going back to our course tutor bringing up the idea that we as a class would be putting on several performances of a popular pantomime and at first I was really excited for it. But when I first got the role of a villager in Jack and the Beanstalk I was a bit downhearted as I would have loved to have had a main role. But when our panto had to be changed to Aladdin and when there were some additional parts that needed to be filled, I jumped to it as that meant I could have a second chance at getting a main role. When we got an email saying who was who again in Aladdin I found out that I again was a villager:
When I found out that I was playing a villager again in the upcoming panto I did feel that maybe I wasn't ready for a main part in panto so I gave it a go at being a villager. At first I found it really difficult and didn't really understand what I had to do in my role. I did undertake research into pantomimes: ITS BEHIND YOU DOT COM - The Magic of Pantomime to try and find out what was expected of me. I also watched various pantomimes such as Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk. As we started learning dances for our panto I started to struggle with keeping in time and trying to master some of the movement. I also struggled with maintaining a smile in the chorus dances. But despite all that I like to think that I overcame all that in the end and did try and take on board the various feedback and direction that I got given. In the end I did really enjoy being in a pantomime and it is something that I will always remember and look back on. Overall I did enjoy being in the chorus even though at first I wasn't that keen on it but it wasn't what I initially expected. At first I had no idea what to expect with being in the chorus. But I did come to really like it.