Aladdin - New Wimbledon Theatre (Review)
Review by David Munro
ALADDIN at the New Wimbledon Theatre is a Pantomime in the old tradition (not a hotchpotch like that at the Lyric Hammersmith), even though Aladdin is played by a real boy, not a principal one.
This was confirmed by the Townsfolk exhorting the audience to come to the supermarket in Old Peking (a number from Cole Porter’s much neglected score for Aladdin; a score I might add worth reviving – pantomime producers please note!).
To Old Peking came the wicked Abanazar, splendidly overplayed by Brian Blessed, who had the children in a frenzy of booing on his every entrance. Mr Blessed clearly revelled in his villainy, tricking Aladdin, stealing the lamp, kidnapping the princess and all with such verve and gusto that one almost hoped he would get away with his evil plots! It was a performance in the old pantomime tradition and one to be treasured.
He was well matched, though, by Ashley Day’s Aladdin who foiled his schemes with a manly display of song, dance and braggadocio quite overcoming my prejudice to male principal boys.
Mr Day has a very pleasing voice and delivers his songs tunefully and with feeling. He is also no slouch in the dance department and can even do a bit of acting on the side – an alpha performance by an alpha male.
I wish I could enthuse in a similar vein about his Princess Jasmine but I can’t – Leila Benn Harris gave a very anaemic performance; her singing was adequate but her acting non-existent! In fact, one hardly noticed when she was on stage.
Initially, I had reservations about Jonathan D. Ellis’s Widow Twankey but in the second act he came into his own and dispelled my doubts. Mr Ellis is a very talented and stylish performer more in the cabaret than the music hall tradition of dame.
He can sell a song with best of them and given the material is very funny. He is also a good ensemble player in the comedy routines, which is just as well as he had strong competition from the other two comics in the show.
These were Paul Thornley, as Wishee Washee, and Sam Bradshaw, as PC Pong. Mr Thornley is a comic in the old tradition and he has a lackadaisical approach to comedy which was very pleasing; he didn’t put a foot wrong the whole evening and became a great favourite with the children who adopted his signature catchphrase with shrieks of joy
Sam Bradshaw’s PC Pong was rather a peripheral figure but when called upon delivered a nice friendly but funny persona well in keeping with the general tone of the production, throwing in a bit of juggling on the side.
One of the pleasant surprises of the evening was Djalenga Scott as the genie of the ring. Usually, this is a part that only calls for a pretty girl (which Miss Scott is) and not much else. Miss Scott, however, displayed a strong personality with a talent for both singing and humour which made her part positive and pleasurable.
Ian Talbot as director (and Emperor) brought his usual flair to the production; at the same time honouring the conventions of the genre, ensuring a good time was had by all.
As usual Wimbledon has provided a real Christmas cracker of a pantomime and one definitely for all the dads and mums. Oh yes, I almost forgot – Ruby Wax appeared on one or two occasions as the first of a series of featured Genies of the lamp – a gimmick I hope is not repeated next year as it endangers enjoyment of a perfectly good pantomime!
Aladdin by Eric Potts
Director – Ian Talbot
Choreographer – Sarah Dean
Lighting – Tim Mascall
Sound – Gareth Owen
Musical director – Warren Willis
CAST: Anita Dobson; Brian Blessed; Ashley Day; Daniel Sloss; Leila Benn Harris; Johathan D. Ellis; Djalenga Scott; Sam Bradshaw; Ian Talbot; Philip Joel; Momo Yeung; Khiley Williams; Taylor Maza; Carl Williams; Samuel Rhys; Sarah Anne Longworth; Katherine Iles.
Presented by Robinsons and First Family.
New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway , Wimbledon, London, SW19 1QG.
Dec 4, 2009 – Jan 10, 2010.
Evenings: 7pm/Matinees: Daily at various times
Box Office: 0870 060 6646