Plot[]
Part One: Jack looks forward to a quiet night behind the bar with so many of the regulars taking part in the panto. Stan and Len come into the Rovers for pre-curtain drinks, both in full costume. Stan is a bag of nerves. Frank Barlow rings Ken and Val, annoyed they're going to Majorca for Christmas when he wanted to visit them. Albert isn't talking to them either. He and Reverend James join the menfolk in the Rovers where the vicar buys them drinks. Hilda isn't pleased as Marj flounces around on stage in her revealing costume. She also threatens Len and Stan when they bring a crate of ale to the panto. Minnie is shattered after being up all night learning the lines to prompt the cast. Ena has to wake her up as curtain up nears.
Part Two: The panto starts at 6.30pm with the church hall full of children, Emily directing, Ray as floor manager, teas by Effie and music by Ena with Alf Chadwick on the piano. Stan forgets his lines and Len his cues. They ad lib to find excuses to swig their drinks from hipflasks. The curtain can't close for a scene change as Minnie is sat on it and she prompts when not needed. Ken and Val realise they don't want to go and call off the trip. Annie practices her singing in the back room and her voice carries through to the stage. Effie and Ray inadvertently walk on stage during the cave scene when taking cakes across one side to the other. Albert has smuggled beer on to the stage for his big scene. Backstage, the menfolk play cards and carrying on drinking. Ken turns up and invites Albert for his Christmas dinner. Hilda harangues Albert for being behind the drinking and they almost miss the curtain call which Emily insists everyone join in on, even the backstage crew. The panto ends with Elsie leading everyone in Jingle Bells.
Cast of Aladdin:
Aladdin - Lucille Hewitt
Wishee Washee - Hilda Ogden
Princess Balroubadour - Audrey Fleming
Widow Twankee - Stan Ogden
Abanazer - Len Fairclough
Genie - Albert Tatlock
Emperor Ming - Reverend James
Empress Ming - Annie Walker
Moon Jade - Maggie Clegg
Lotus Flower - Elsie Tanner
Slave Girl - Marjorie Griffin
Chi Chi - Gordon Clegg
An An - Dickie Fleming
Cast[]
Regular cast[]
- Ray Langton - Neville Buswell
- Jack Walker - Arthur Leslie
- Stan Ogden - Bernard Youens
- Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
- Kenneth Barlow - William Roache
- Valerie Barlow - Anne Reid
- Albert Tatlock - Jack Howarth
- Dickie Fleming - Nigel Humphreys
- Gordon Clegg - Bill Kenwright
- Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
- Annie Walker - Doris Speed
- Effie Spicer - Anne Dyson
- Hilda Ogden - Jean Alexander
- Minnie Caldwell - Margot Bryant
- Miss Nugent - Eileen Derbyshire
- Lucille Hewitt - Jennifer Moss
- Audrey Fleming - Gillian McCann
- Elsie Tanner - Patricia Phoenix
- Maggie Clegg - Irene Sutcliffe
Guest cast[]
- Alf Chadwick - Eddie King
- Reverend James - Eric Dodson
- Marjorie Griffin - Marjie Lawrence
Places[]
- Rovers Return Inn - Public/snug
- 14 Coronation Street - Living room and hallway
- St. Mary's Church - Church hall and back room
Notes[]
- Songs sung in the panto are Congratulations, Puppet on a String and Jingle Bells.
- TV Times synopsis: Stan picks up his skirts and the genie of the lamp appears
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 6,700,000 homes (6th place).
- This episode was included in the Network DVD collection Coronation Street: The Best of 1960-1969, released on 31st July 2006.
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