Aladdin

I was so pleased to be invited to review this pantomime as it was a delightful production with a very high standard.   This theatre has quite limited backstage and wing space so, putting on any show is a challenge.  IMOG did a great job and Director Denyse Donnell is to be complimented on an entertaining production.

In a bit of a turnaround from tradition, Aladdin was played by a male and Mike Spall-Hancy was a perfect casting.    He is a good strong dancer, gave a confident and enjoyable performance and sang his songs beautifully.    Kirsty Elliott played Princess Jasmine well, a good performance although one of her songs seemed a bit beyond her natural range.   Steve Critchell was excellent as Widow Twankey, playing the audience to perfection and keeping the pace going well.  Jeremy Martin played Abanazer and worked hard to bring out the villain in the part.

Deborah Fisher was excellent was Wishee Washee, keeping the audience involved and playing the fool perfectly.  Jill Kitson was a delight as Nobby the Panda, thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable to watch.   Emma Dyos (Sergeant Ping) and Sue Elliott (PC Pong) were a terrific team, playing the traditional ‘stupid’ henchmen with great energy and enthusiasm.   Juliet Ware played the Genie of the Lamp and we were treated to an excellent rendering of I Got The Magic in Me from her. Olga Rogers played the Genie of the Ring well and the Ghost was played by Anne Horemans.

The members of the ensemble were very good indeed, with some excellent singing and dancing.  There was also very slick and perfectly timed ‘something else I’d rather be’ routine.  One of the best that I have seen in a non-professional panto for some time.

The costumes were beautiful, as they should be from one of the country’s foremost panto producers, and the cloths were, as always, excellent, a credit to scenic artist Paul Lazell.  Sound and lighting were spot on and the pace of the show was slick and fast.  Even so the first half lasted over an hour, and I was surprised that there was not more fidgeting from the children in the audience.  It is a credit to the cast that they kept them in their seats.

There was an interesting selection of songs in the show, some unusual choices that fitted well with the story but were not, necessarily, right for the performer.    Baby Shark does not come into that category!  However, absolutely right to include it as it is this year’s ‘panto song’.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this pantomime, well done to all the cast and crew.

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