Theatre Play – Portsmouth Evening News – Thursday, 01 January 1959

"Ali Baba" at Selsey The SCAMPS (Selsey Comedy and Musical Productions Society) presented the tenth pantomime " Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves " at the Pavilion Cinema. Script, songs and music were written by the producer, Dan Denton, and Miss Dorothy Charlton. Phyllis May designed and made the beautiful costumes, and Frank Currie excelled himself in designing the scenery. Peggy Cockayne the principal boy, and Princess Morgiana, played by Mavis Tomsett, made a very attractive pair. The parts of Cogia Hassan, captain of the robbers, and his two henchmen, Blind Ali and Salli's Ali, were played by Sheila Holland and John Edye (two comparative newcomers to the SCAMPS), and by Bobbie Fullick with vigour and realism. John Bunn ably took the part of the Dame and Roy Balcomb made a welcome reappearance in pantomime in the role of Mustapha, the Caliph's guard. Olive and Elizabeth Bedells were superb as the comic donkey, and later as the two penguins. Beryl Wakeling danced with confidence and grace in the role of the slave girl and later in the Snake Dance.