"It was halfway through the show when Aladdin got trapped in the cave. Our version was based on the original story, One Thousand and One Nights (not Disney's), in which Aladdin possesses two magical entities: a powerful Genie of the Lamp (me) and Scheherazade, Genie of the Ring. I was on stage with Aladdin and Scheherazade, using my magic to smash the ring and break the evil sorcerer's curse."
"Unfortunately the pyro was packed a little too full. As I flicked the wheel mechanism, the top shot off into the audience, narrowly missing them (I have no idea where it went, but no one was harmed). The bottom, a red-hot metal casing, blew out and stuck to my skin. The pyro had exploded in my hand! I couldn't see for about 10 seconds and couldn't hear for another 30 all in front of 300 audience members."
"I couldn't see what the cast did when it exploded, but I'm certain we all jumped with fright I sure did. When my sight returned, I had to lip read to know when I had to say my line. I remember I said, Woo! That was a bit unexpected, eh? And we just carried on as if that was supposed to happen."
Pantomime season involves numerous hazards ranging from malfunctioning pyrotechnics and live-animal complications to panic attacks, chafing, broken props, and injured performers. Missed cues and forgotten lines are relatively minor compared with safety and health risks. A performer described a handheld pyrotechnic overpacked with charge that sent its top into the audience and a red-hot casing into the performer's hand, causing temporary blindness and deafness in front of 300 people. The performer lip-read cues, improvised a line and continued the performance without immediate medical intervention. Seasoned professionals report exhausting, error-laden, and explosive realities behind pantomime productions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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