THEATRE REVIEW
DURBAN’s annual mini, naughty panto is on the move again. After jumping venues every so often over the course of its 17 years, the Sue Clarence-produced production is now at Greyville Racecourse after a few years in the large Sunzone tent at Suncoast Casino.
This year we get a loopy Durban-flavoured version of Aladdin, presented in the racecourse’s Centenary Room, near the main grandstand area – and it is good advice to be clear on directions ahead of time as signposting is small and meagre from the parking area across the racetrack.
The nice thing about the new venue is that it offers a more intimate setting for the panto, and it’s good to report that sightlines at the back of the venue are to be improved with the addition of a raised tier, which was missing when I popped along for an early preview of the show.
However, there remains a crying need to spruce up the hall, make it more festive and exciting, as it looks rather sad with only a few strings of white lights. How about the show title in glitter above the stage? Drapings of colourful fairy lights? Christmas decorations and a tree, perhaps? This is a year-end celebration, after all.
The raised stage, extending the full width of the venue, offers an ideal space for the panto which this year unfolds on two levels, with a wooden staircase leading to an upper section of the stage, which is simply dressed in various fabrics.
Directed and written by Darren King, Aladdin Grey Street, to give the show’s full title, once again stars leggy panto dame Anthony Stonier, who has been in every one of the nudge-wink adult pantos since they were first staged at the now-defunct Playhouse Cellar.
Appearing in micro-mini (but surprisingly dowdy) outfits this year, Stonier fills the role of Widow Twankey, the mother of Aladdin, who runs the Blow Your Load laundry in Grey Street.
Aladdin, a boy with a big smile and an even bigger “destiny”, as he labels his extra-large appendage, is played with gusto by an animated T Q Zondi.
The actor’s jovial cousin, Mpilo “Straw” Nzimande, who filled the title role in last year’s panto, Sinder-fella, is also here – a delight as the Genie of the Ring, appearing in full Zulu warrior regalia.
The Genie of the Ring soon falls under the control of the menacing, conniving, in-command Sultana, played with aplomb and obvious enjoyment by a sassy Katy Moore in black wig, high heels and black PVC.
Also adding to the fun are panto regular Rowan Bartlett, a constant hoot, all flapping large eyelids and voice fluctuation, as a far-fromdainty Princess Jasmine, who never sheds her yashmak.
In a brief cameo as the Genie of the Lamp we have Darren Maule, who gets the audience laughing a lot when he arrives in the treasureladen Cave of Wonders, a grotto with a very novel entrance area.
Maule doesn’t stick around for the final bows as he has to shoot off early for some shut-eye before his morning shifts on East Coast Radio.
Rounding out the cast is the ever-amusing Thomie Holtzhausen as Twankey’s slimeball of an assistant, Watch-Mi-Wankee. He’s a groovy lothario with a slim moustache who wears bellbottoms and a cheap, gold chain, with the word “Sexy”, around his neck,
King has injected all the expected ingredients – from the audience singalong with lyrics on a screen, to the amusing line-song, and the there’s-a-ghost-behind-you routine – and, of course, his script is awash with sexual innuendo, below-the-belt humour and topical references. All boxes are ticked.
Steve Hofmeyr, Jacob Zuma, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Mike Sutcliffe, the Guptas, Harry Oppenheimer, The Barnyard Theatre, Nkandla, the country’s water crisis … all get a gentle jab.
Songs featured range from Stonier’s deliveries of What Kind of Fool Am I and Just Leave Everything to Me (from Hello Dolly) to tall Bartlett and pint-size Zondi in duet for Something Stupid.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Up Where We Belong, Comedy Tonight, That Old Black Magic and a finale rendition of Mango Groove’s Dance Sum More also crop up in a lightweight, unpretentious frolic which has been booked in until December 30.
Performances are at 7.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, and also at 2pm on Saturdays. Doors open 90 minutes early for dining (food is available from Eat Greek) and a full bar service is available.
Tickets range in price from R130 to R170. Book at Computicket or by phoning Ailsa at 083 250 2690.