Aladdin

This version of the well known pantomime, written by company members Hannah McGinlay and Lauren MacAskill, was full of witty dialogue, traditional panto gags and puns and lots of local references which had the audience giggling and laughing from the outset. The opening song and dance “Can’t Stop the Feeling” was fast paced and this was kept up throughout the show right up to the finale “I’m Still Standing” – I’m not sure where the cast members got their energy from! Aladdin was played by the elfin-like Mallory Black with great aplomb – even when flying around the stage and over the orchestra pit on the Magic Carpet! Her strong voice was shown at its best in the Act One finale “Roar”. Princess Jasmine was played by the delightful Kirsten Rennie portraying her loving and wilful characteristics equally well. Her beautiful voice blended well with Aladdin’s in their love duet “At the Beginning” and was shown to its full strength in her solo “If I Were A Man” in Act Two. Comedy was in the safe hands of Lewis Moggach’s larger than life Widow Twankey and Ciara Adams as her silly-billy son Wishee Washee. Their “behind you” song – appropriately called “A Song To Scare Mummies” – was hilarious as was Widow Twankey’s “Huntly Girls” with the ensemble. James Watt was suitably evil as Abanazar in his attempts to get the lamp aided by his inept side-kick Dave played by Neil Bell-Forsyth. Good was always going to triumph over evil when June Cranna as the Spirit of the Ring and Lauren MacAskill as the Genie of the Lamp were there to lend a hand. Strong support was given by Peet Michielsen as Jasmine’s over protective father the Emperor and Elizabeth Ingram as the interfering – and sometimes gallus – Empress. The singing and dancing of the eight members of the ensemble was faultless as was the playing of the orchestra. The costumes were colourful and appropriate to the characters. The set too was colourful and appropriate to the Middle Eastern setting of the piece. Congratulations to everyone on an excellent production.

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