Enchanted by Aladdin and his lamp

	Review by Paul Nelson

On the tiniest of budgets, an absolute scorcher of a family pantomime is being staged at the Landor Theatre, Landor Road, Clapham North.

Aladdin is a good old standby favourite with most people and this version is no exception.

Director Robert McWhir has plundered some standards from shows such as Sweet Charity, Company, Mack and Mabel etc and his company shows a good deal of professionalism with all of them in good voice.

The audience was in good voice too and yelled back at the wicked Abanazar where appropriate, cheered Aladdin and his Princess Badr-al-Badur and laughed heartily at the antics of Widow Twankey, Wishee Washee and three delightful glamorous girls who carry a good deal of the show and its numbers.

The evening is over in no time it seems, always a sign of a good show and at the end there is even a song sheet for the audience, by now weak with laughter, for a sing along.

It's a clean show and suitable for the smallest children, with plenty of action to keep them in their seats.

Pantomime it seems refuses to age and its appeal is constant. This one is a corker. There was only one child in the audience for the first night, as happy as Larry. Me.

Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp, presented by Landor Theatre Productions. Producer Linda Edwards. Directed by Robert McWhir. Musical Direction Matthew Reeve. Lighting Design Paul Nulty. With Helen Reynolds (Sing Hi), Catherine Carolan (Sing Lo), Laura Conway (Sing Flat), Tim Parker (Widow Twankey), Julia Howson (Aladdin), Ian Dring (Abanazer), Stephen Worbey (Wishee Washee), Emma Kelly (Princess Badr-al-Badur), David O'Dell (Genie of the Lamp/Emperor Chow Mein).
Landor Theatre, 70 Landor Road, London SW9 9PH. 020 7737 7276.