Aladdin

When that cast exploded on to the stage in the opening (and kept on coming) with great noise and energetic and enthusiastic movement and dance, it was an amazing experience to fill the stage with a chorus of 42 members of all ages and sizes, and certainly predicted the status and fizz of the whole presentation. Add 11 principals and the full-house packed audience knew that it would be a good evening. What energy throughout!!
 In the title role, Zachary Green was trying a new technique as first-time pantomime principal to add to his other good skills in varying shows, and he made a very acceptable interpretation as Aladdin and worked so well in the humour of the laundry and the romance of the palace gardens, good performance from this young man who has grown so much both physically and technically in performance over the past months. Opposite him as Princess Pomegranate, Grace Dodd had strong personality and stage appeal, strong vocals, and worked well with Aladdin, but particularly with handmaiden So-Shy (Tilly Baron) who was quite up-front and especially so in the dance routines. And these three young principals so good for the future of the society.
 As the more unpleasant side of the proceedings, the cash-strapped and demanding Empress from Lucy Ferris dominated when on stage, and good vocals, definitely royal and in charge, but not always achieving her will. The wickedness of Abanazer, and well booed, played by George Shipley wove through the story from laundry to cave to palace and was not someone to meet on a dark night.
 The magical moments of this story influenced by an attractive Spirit of the Ring from Ella-mae Richardson, and an amazing and totally different canary-suited and panama-hatted Genie from Robin Hawkes (this latter such fun and well worked characterisation with style), and they resolved all the problems.
 On the humour team, Richard Tree and Dan Robinson as Feng and Shui the palace policemen had the wits and timing and turn of speed and fun to run rings around others, good. And as Wishee Washee, poor Dan Rowe was just beaten on all fronts by mother and brother and in fact all characters, but he kept his sense of timing and relationships especially in inter-action with all those Brownies in the audience, good humour role.
 Keeping the best until last, Widow Twankey from Ben Francis is a Dame of great excellence: full of immaculate timing and turn of speed, well presented humour, a great singing voice and the dance routines (even in those stilettoes) excellent, and his appearances in a brilliant new creation for each scene and these were amazing in style and colour (did I prefer MacDonalds or the washing machine, but perhaps finale the finest), and total interaction with all other principals, this is a performance to relish and to show others how it should be done.
 An excellent family pantomime and fully to the standard expected from FADLOS.

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