By Clifford Rudd

EAST Harlsey Pantomime Players have done it again with a magnificent production of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

The background team created superb costumes, colourful staging and props, special effects and lighting to add to the success of the actors.

The songs are always a highlight and, while the chorus were brilliant, they were outshone by the vitality of the youngsters making up the Forty Thieves. They sang their hearts out, at the same time as trying to do the choreography with which Sarah Martin had challenged them.

Julian Whaley, playing Ali Baba, and Richard Martin, as Barbara Baba, showed us new talents this year with their singing and dancing. The audience loved it. The Mustaphas Pea and Dribble, played by Shirley Smith and Mike Wilson, were a joy to watch.

The panto was a team performance of which to be proud. All the audiences left with smiles on their faces and songs ringing in their ears. Judith Allan’s and Sarah Martin's hard work was a professional and entertaining success.

Every night was different as the actors responded to a different audience. I can certainly vouch for this as I sat through every performance.