Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge – until Sunday 9th Jan 2022
Reviewed by Steph Lott
5*****
It’s pantomime season and it was wonderful to join an enthusiastic and excited audience for Cambridge Art Theatre’s production of Aladdin. This is a fun, vibrant and entertaining show, full of glitz, tradition and dodgy jokes. At the start of the show Dave Murphy, Chief Executive of the Cambridge Arts Theatre and producer of the show gave a heart-warming introduction to the performance, in which he asked the audience to “go ballistic”, which we did, at the many opportunities to boo and cheer, to show our appreciation of a wonderful family show.
This production has a very strong cast who are skilfully directed by Michael Gattrell. Of course there isn’t a great deal of plot or tension, but this is panto after all. The show ticks all the boxes for a great traditional piece of family entertainment.
Of course we must have a pantomime dame and Matt Crosby as Widow Twankey steps up to the plate here in fine style, with perfect comic timing, clad in a splendid array of wigs and dresses, and a set of enormous eye lashes. Indeed all the principals get a moment in the spotlight in this show and they all sing brilliantly. Carl Au as Aladdin sings Katy Perry’s “Roar” wonderfully as he flies on the magic carpet to rescue the Princess (and lots of the kids around me were very impressed by the flying carpet!) Rolan Bell’s performance as Abanazar is outstanding, all velvet-voiced villain as he sings his solo “I want it All”. Aiesha Pease as the Spirit of the Ring got a round of thunderous applause for her singing. I was impressed at how well these performers could sing, given that it was a pantomime!
And we must not forget the ensemble. They really were excellent, bringing the stage alive in each of the full ensemble numbers, accompanied by music from a live four-piece pit band (Musical Director Dean McDermott).
I want to give a special mention to the script. Writer Al Lockhart-Morley did a fabulous job. What I loved about it was that it was really funny, with some innuendo for the adults but it didn’t ever become too knowing or smutty. We were given a never-ending stream of the worst best kind of puns, plays on words and Christmas cracker jokes, which really are my favourite. We didn’t stop laughing the whole way through, both at the script but also at some great slapstick, in particular the scene in the launderette which had us crying with laughter at Widow Twankey and Wishy-Washy (played by Isaac Stanmore) haplessly trying to get some washing done!
I loved everything about this show. From start to finish it never ceased to entertain both myself and everyone else in the audience, both young and old. This show is brilliant entertainment for all the family, embracing every well-loved panto tradition. It’s slick and full of laughs and there are some seriously talented players. It’s a better booster than your third jab!