Hull New Theatre – until 29 December 2019
Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams
4****
When times are uncertain and the weather is awful there are certain things that I want to be able to rely on, and the joy and escape that a good pantomime provides is one of them. Qdos Entertainments production of Aladdin at Hull New theatre did not let me down, the front cover of the programme boldly announces that Aladdin is “everything you could wish for in a panto” and I would have to agree with that description.
This production of Aladdin is a very traditional pantomime, it does not rely on fancy technical trickery but is full of sparkle, singing, dancing, bad jokes but most of all big hearted fun. Some of the jokes go over the heads of the children, some are very near the knuckle, some are old and well-worn and you know what is coming… but the mix is exactly what you want and leaves you with aching muscles from laughing (and groaning!) so much.
The story is that Aladdin (Simon Webbe) wants to marry Princess Jasmine (Charlotte Barnes), but he is too poor. Abanazar (Robin Askwith) is the ultimate baddie who wants the magic lamp so he can be master of the universe, but only Aladdin can get it for him. Throw in a Genie, Widow Twankey (Darren Machin), Wishee Washee (Neil Hurst), The Spirit of the Dance (Jake Canuso), Emperor Ming (Keith Higham), mayhem, madness and utter ridiculousness and ultimately you have a happy ending!
Pantomime is by its very nature interactive and the children in the audience were booing loudly from the start when the baddie Abanazar (Robin Askwith) appeared on the stage. Robin Askwith loved every minute of his role and made for a very convincing baddie, thoroughly enjoying whipping the children up into even louder booing!
Simon Webbe was a wonderful Aladdin, he had exactly the right amount of youthful enthusiasm and energy. His singing was superb, a real highlight for me and I could have listened to even more songs.
Neil Hurst as Wishee Washee pulled things together beautifully and had a wonderful rapport with the children in the audience. Darren Machin made a wonderful over the top panto dame as Widow Twankey. Jake Canuso was excellent as The Spirit of the Dance, providing humour and cracking dancing.
The costumes were fabulous, Widow Twankey’s outfits were sublime in their ridiculousness, Emperor Ming’s costumes were suitably luxurious but his hats practically had a life of their own! The sets were simple but worked beautifully. The Ensemble and the Babes provided us with excellent dancing. The New Theatre Band (Jon Chamberlain, Lisa Featherston and Mark Knight) were outstanding and I seriously thought there were a lot more people in the orchestra pit!
This was a wonderful production, the standard of the singing and dancing throughout was superb, there were wonderful nods to the past and tradition, a keystone cops chase and a sand dance. It had traditional characters and jokes, and a cast that loved every minute of it, this is a proper family pantomime. The children in the audience were having the time of their lifes, shouting and cheering and booing and the adults had just as much fun! I was slightly disappointed that there was not a big song and dance to finish the show, but that is my only criticism.
For over 2 hours I forgot about everything that was going on in the world and entered the wonderful world of Aladdin, a world of sparkle, magic and fun and I came out of the theatre feeling that somehow the world had been put right.
Take your family, or your partner or go on your own to see this production of Aladdin, it really has the feel good factor!