Theatre Royal, Windsor – until 14 January 2024
Reviewed by Joanna Huggett
5*****
The Theatre Royal Windsor Pantomime is back and is as traditional and wonderful as ever in its 85th year! Audience participation was off the scale from the start with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. The main stay of its success over many years; are the incredible Steven Blakeley, who plays Widow Twankey as well as writing the script, Kevin Cruise who plays Wishee Washee and the fantastic Basil Brush.
Twankey’s Poodle Parlour was a stand out slapstick performance which had both the audience and cast in stitches.
Robby Khala as Aladdin gave an energetic and convincing performance. Both he and Carmen Law, who played Princess Jasmine, gave great vocal and dance performances and made a very convincing couple.
Both Anita Harris, as The Empress and Pattie Boylaye, as Genie of the Lamp, gave gravitas to the show and played their parts with humour and sparkle befitting their many years in show business.
Paul Zenon, as Abanazar, was an excellent baddy who turned out to have a much softer side!
The ensemble (Isabella Everett, Elliot Owen-Cowles, Trezel Sergeant, Darcy Kim, Anthony Pereira and Mia Welsh) provided great vocal and dance backing throughout as well as standing by in their roles as understudies.
Act 2 was great with a brilliant Barbie sequence which had us all on our feet, also an impressive magic carpet ride. This was rounded off with the much anticipated rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The show closed with a spectacular coronation and wedding finale. We can’t wait until next year! We recommend early booking to avoid disappointment! 🙂