The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Waterloo Stage Theatre‘s pantomime production of Aladdin continues to delight local audiences | v:.w(oa Site i whoa PhOCH ,'a h whirlwind of advenâ€" A;ure, magic and music waits behind the doors of the Waterloo Stage Theatre. Aladdin has come to Waterloo and with him he‘s brought a princess, a genie and the wicked villain Abanaza, who Waterloo audiences have enthusiastiâ€" cally booed since opening night. 234 King St. S., Waterloo {corner of King St & Union St ) 741 â€" www.goligerstravel.com They‘re _ not_ booing because he‘s a bad actor, but because he plays such a good villain. The Waterloo Stage Theatre‘s production of Aladdin is being perâ€" formed in pantomime form. This British theatre tradition can be traced back over 100 years and is usually presentâ€" ed over the holiday season. «l Pantomime performanâ€" ces include a great deal of audience participation. At the beginning of the play, Aladdin (played by Matt Bois] gives the audience their instructions, because they too have a very imporâ€" tant role to play. Each time the villain enters the stage, the audience is to greet him By Amy HacHBORN Chronicle Staff TavelPlus 741â€"0770 "People come in not ‘knowing what to expect," says Waterloo Stage Theatre‘s general manager, Steve Roth. with a loud "Boo," and when Aladdin is on stage, they are to cheer him on to victory. "The kids in the audience are the fastest to respond, but as the show goes on and the play progresses, the audiences get caught up in the action." Roth comments though that Aladdin is by no means just a production for chilâ€" dren. The _ Waterloo _ Stage Theatre has been entertainâ€" ing audiences since its first season in 1997. Formerly a movie house, the theatre has been transformed into a live performance â€" venue â€" and has productions featuring actors _ from _ Stratford, Toronto, London, Kitchenerâ€" "Aladdin is a family show. The colourful characters and constant action attract the kids, but the humour of the play is definitely aimed at the adults. Aladdin offers something for everyone." Continued on page 19 ARTS FOCUS Widow Twankee (played Tony White) performs the dip on the evil Abanaza (played by Terry Barna). The production is directed by Between Friends artistic director Reid Spencer, and features an excepâ€" tional cast beaded by Stratford Festival alumnus Christina Gordan (Grandma Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof and the title role in Patience in this last season) as Gretel; international opera star Christine Komatsu, whose voice has thrilled audiences from the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow to Casals Hall in Tokyo, across Europe and in major centres throughout North America, as Hansel; and the incomparable Karen K. Edissi in a turn as the most glamorous Wicked Witch to hit the stage in some time. Between Friends Music Theatre is lighting up the Christmas school break with a production of Engelbert Humperdinck‘s classic treatment of one of the world‘s best loved fairy tales, Hansel & Gretel. Following on the critical and popular success of / Do, I Do, Between Friends is again singing up a storm on the stage at The Church Theatre, on King Street in St. Jacobs. Audience members have commented on the wonderful acoustics and intimate atmosphere of this 1914 building, which has been given a new lease on life as a venue for music and music theatre. P;:;r;}l; of the theatre with a ticket stub in hand can take advantage of a $5 price reduction on dinner at the Stone Crock Restaurant, Vidalias, or Benjamin‘s. Pn enindg snn "Something About Christmas...1940s" Style" will feature two choirs, actors and soloists performing some of the best swingin‘ Christmas music ever made. The production will be staged Dec. 16 at 7:30 Rz!ive the sounds, sights and feelings of the wingin‘ big band days in an original production by Koinonia Christian Fellowship in Bloomingdale. p.m. and Dec. 17 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Admission is free Koinonia Christian Fellowship is located at 850 Sawmill Rd. Celebrate Christmas, 19408‘ style