Aladdin by Lance Milton

When I arrived at Clair Hall, the vivacious atmosphere generated by excited families was a babbling wall of positivity, the sheer numbers signifying that Weald Theatre Group’s annual pantomime is a hugely popular event.  The fact that all proceeds go to charity added a philanthropic flair to a hilarious evening.

This much loved traditional tale tells the rags to riches story of young man Aladdin, son of a washerwoman, who is persuaded to retrieve a magic lamp with a wish granting genie, by an evil magician who is his uncle.  Aladdin has to get it from a vast cave and gets trapped, escaping with the help of the genie of a ring.  He gets the lamp back and becomes wealthy due to the genie.  Aladdin’s story contains a host of colourful characters and includes falling in love with a beautiful princess (of course) saving her from an arranged marriage and a kidnapping, losing the lamp and getting it back, vanquishing the evil uncle and marrying the princess.

This pantomime was wittily written by Lance Milton and incorporates all the ingredients for a captivating and accomplished show. The audience were whisked away to China with excellent stagecraft, smooth professional set changes and comically painted sets. I loved the Chinese laundry.

The sound and lighting was particularly impressive with liberally sprinkled sound effects promoting audience giggles throughout. In fact, the audience demonstrated their engagement with the unfolding story with gleeful participation, skilfully encouraged by flamboyant characters including Wishy Washy (Colin Kenward,) Widow Twanky (Billy Kirwan,) Nanny Hung Lo(Carl Turner,) Demon Dread (Matt Hinton,) YooHoo (Beth Hinton,) and  the evil Abananza (James Villiers.)

All the Costumes were evocative of the time and era,  Widow Twanky a merry matron in her spotty dress, Princess Sushi shimmering beautifully, the dancers, villagers and whole ensemble creating a kalieidoscope of colour and especially outstanding in glittery wonderfulness – the genie of the lamp.

Sarah Milton  was perfectly cast as Aladdin and Jennifer McLean made a delightful Princess Sushi. Together they harmonised with strong clear singing voices, creating a believable and not overly sweet love story. Prince Chop Suey (Dharam Gill) played a gentle character whose own unrequited love interest was not Princess Sushi but Pete! (The ‘for Pete’s sake’ line was great.)

Wishee Washee played superbly by Colin Kenward, lumbered and bumbled around with childlike innocence providing comical slapstick moments and generating laughter, empathy and interaction from a delighted audience.  Billy Kirwan’s Widow Twanky bustled, bossed and bemoaned her lot with fabulous flamboyance and her rendition of Peggy Lee’s W.O.M.A.N was tremendous.  Nanny Hung Lo  also put the panache into the panto, boosting audience participation with his droll humour and playful charisma.

There were so many wonderful characterisations in this pantomime.  Fairy Snow (Emma Hudson) enchanted the audience with a stunning voice and generous sprinkles of goodness to counteract the evil Demon Dread and Abananza.YooHoo (Beth Hinton) another goodie encouraging audience interaction with a sweet voice and enthusiastic dancing, especially in the ensemble’s ‘The Boy Does Nothing’ by Alesha Dixon. In clever contrast to her magical vocation, the Genie of the ring Niamh Welberry was a down to earth diamond with an East End accent.

Demon Dread and Abananza were deliciously menacing generating boos galore and adding thrills and chills with enough humour to avoid giving the children nightmares.Matt Hinton played the impressive Emperor of China.  Clearly the strong silent type he had a strong presence and quite a following with some insider hilarity going on. The awestruck wonder in children’s faces is testament to the magnificence of Antony Cannizzaro’s Genie of the lamp.

The choreography was inventive and the song and dance routines full of energy and humour.  Particular favourites not previously mentioned were ‘In the laundry’ (country) Cliff Richard and ‘‘Lay all your Love on Me’ (Abba).  Some of the dancers and singers were outstanding and there was a particularly impressive dance duet performed during a touching solo sung by princess Sushi.  Of course the audience all had great fun participating in the community song ‘Rub Your Genie Out.’

The accomplished curtain-call was like the tying a colourful bow on a bulging sackful of treats.  Marvellous!

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