ALADDIN by David Cregan Theatre Royal E 15 to 26 January.
London
ALADDIN
by David Cregan, music by Brian Protheroe
Theatre Royal, Stratford E 15 To 26 January 2002
Runs 2hr 30min One interval
TICKETS 020 8534 0310
Review Timothy Ramsden 14 December
A riot and a tradition rolled into one. Roll up or be left out of the gutsiest Christmas show around.I've never heard so noisy an audience. Some of it was end of term school groups ready to make a racket at a funeral in a monastery, but the E 15 company pump up the decibel expectations pre-show with Alice Redmond's punchy singalong, that turns the art of warm-up into white heat technology. If this had been football there'd have been a pitch invasion long before half-time. As it was Brian Protheroe's amiably snarling villain bought off boos with fistfuls of sweets chucked at the audience, who leapt to meet them half-way.
Aladdin exploits and updates this intimate theatre's popular Variety tradition, with actor/dancer Kat B giving Aladdin A* street cred. in a flash of athletic dance (sadly not developed as the story goes on) which sees off the vapid but 'suitable' wannabe royal Rowloon. There's no doubt what side of the railway tracks this show lays its sympathies. Yet it knows its place is not to be a political statement, but to give the best show going to the best – and only – audience that matters: its own.
The show plunders the ingredients of panto and uses them with mastery. So Michael Bertenshaw's dame, rouged to the heavens, is a peach of a performance untainted by stock Dame routines. It draws humour through the acutely observed expressions and mannerisms of a woman who's coped with years of widowhood, bringing up a family with an assured lack of concern about what others think of her. Sung Din's a survivor and Bertenshaw triumphs in the role.
Darlene Johnson's a comically inefficient genie suffering from an ability to keep still while Sarah Rajeswaran's protocol-defying Princess is any youngster fed up with being told what to do. That's why this show is so wonderful: it's street life made gorgeous through Jenny Tiramani's evocative settings and sped along by Kerry Michael's miss-no-trick direction. Love panto? – You'll adore this. Hate panto? – Go along, spoil yourself. You'll not look back. Even if it is behind you.
Abenazar: Brian Protheroe
Aladdin: Kat B
Rowloon: O-T Fagbenle
Kwailing: Alice Redmond
The Grand Vizier: Ralph Birtwell
Mrs Vizier: Rebecca Deren
The Crown Princess of China: Sarah Rajeswaran
The Emperor of China: Trevor A. Toussaint
The First Inscrutable Lady: Yaa
Thr Second Inscrutable Lady: Lindsay Cutter
Sung Din: Michael Bertenshaw
The Genie of the Ring: Darlene Johnson
Also appearing: Darren Carr, Darren Hart, Chevonne Oke
Director: Kerry Michael
Musical Director: Robert Hyman
Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting: Paul Anderson
Sound: Mike Walker
Choreographer: Karen Rabinowitz
Fight director: Malcolm Ranson
2001-12-16 10:40:36