The appropriately named John Partridge even had a Scottish accent to match the Mac in his name. Our feathered friend recruited the audience to guard his special egg. Eventually it hatched making MacCaw a single father! Thieves 'Thirty Nine' and 'Forty' were a comedy duo to remember.
James Darsley's Ali Baba was a charming character who related well to the audience. He loved Elly, the principal girl played sweetly by Katy Moors, so much that he helped her meet her Prince (Deborah Holmes).
Mediora, the Princess he should have married, who found herself a better match, was a hilariously dozy, jolly hockey sticks type in the hands of Carole McGillivray.
The dragon-painted backdrop and oodles of jewels in the cave scene were impressive and the dancers had a chance to show their skills in pairs. From the well-positioned opening scene they were well rehearsed especially as they tapped "Forget your troubles, come on get happy." We did get happy, Urmston.
Under Colin Titley's direction you came up with a great show.
Deborah Holmes was appealing as Princes Sapphire and was well matched by James Darsley as Ali Baba. Chris Marney looked right as Bombastardo the leader of the forty thieves of whom we only meet two. Thirty-nine (Chris Perry) and Forty (Gary Hocking) both worked hard at the comedy.
The dame seemed to be an afterthought in this script but John Walker as Marcowdozer made the most of what he had. Carole McGillivray as the 'jolly hockey sticks" Princes Mediora came over well as did Jill Ratcliffe as the evil Catopheara, the one you love to hate.
Instead of the usual panto horse or cow we had an inspired character of MacCaw a parrot with a Scottish accent played to the full by John Partridge.
There was enthusiastic support from the rest of the cast and a good technical team. I would like to have seen a little more understanding of the genre in the direction.
In UMT'S version, which runs at Urmston Sports Centre, Bowfell Road, from January 21 to 24, Ali Baba is relegated to a buttons-type character who falls in love with the fishmonger's daughter. There are two new characters - a good spirit trapped in a cave until she finds her magic tiara, and a bad spirit who plans to rule Baghdad by brainwashing a princess after an arranged marriage with the prince of Baghdad.
The 40 thieves rob the princess of her dowry and Ali Baba finds the treasure in the magic cave where he meets and rescues the good spirit, who has languished there for 100 years. The show has all the necessary ingredients, including a dame played by veteran comedian John Walker. The audience will be expected to look after the special egg that a giant-sized parrot has carried around for a century.
Colin said: "I'm counting on them to yell when anyone goes near it" Colin expects the hit of the show to be Thieves 39 and 40, played by Christine Perry and Gary Hocking. He said, "I am banking on them. They are one of the best comedy duos I have seen. They have developed their act, as a big and stupid pair, from nothing and I am really proud of them."
Tickets for evening performances from Wednesday to Friday and 12 noon and 4pm Saturday are available priced £7 for adults and £5 for concessions. For details call 0161 718 1010.