Aladdin and his friends are simply... MAGIC
Event: Venue: Review:
AFTER last year’s five-star performance of Jack and the Beanstalk, we couldn’t wait for another daft dose of panto at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.
Our children Harry, seven, and Lottie, four, were anticipating the show almost as much as mum and dad – and we weren’t to be disappointed.
Right from the off there’s slapstick, singing, dancing and jokes from the talented cast led by familiar faces Robin Simpson (Widow Twankey) and Huddersfield lad Thomas Cotran (Aladdin).
Lottie was giggling and joining in the fun as pooping panda Ping-Pong popped up, quickly followed by the baddie Abanazar (Richard Hand) who was greeted with boos and hisses.
Harry enjoyed the ‘flossing’ dance and the impressive magic carpet ride while I ended up humming along to the re-jigged Abba and Queen tunes.
Directed by Joyce Branagh and written by Andrew Pollard, the two-hour show galloped along, the adults kept happy with topical gags and the kids kept onside with slapstick and silliness.
Aside from the warm and funny Robin Simpson, the performers who caught my eye were the genies played by Stephanie Hackett and Nicola Jayne Ingram who were great value.
After the show, I asked Harry for his verdict : “I’d like to know how they did the magic carpet. Maybe they borrowed some magic from Santa.”
As the curtain came down, he added: “I could watch that again. It was funny when they put the policeman in the washing machine.”
He also liked the smoke which exploded from the stage whenever a genie appeared, while Lottie loved the singing and dancing and the ice cream during the 20-minute interval.