“A vibrant and colourful take on one of the best pantomime stories and a must see for all ages”
BUILT in the 1920’s, the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing provides a picturesque background for the stage setting of Aladdin, with an array of stars from television, music and theatre. It’s a wonderful show from start to finish full of colour, great sound, excellent lighting and fine dance routines providing quality all round family entertainment.
Mark Jones who played Wishee Washee was absolutely brilliant, his perfect timing and interaction with the audience had the children and the adults in the palm of his hands from the minute he first appeared on stage.
Dave Lynn’s Widow Twankey showed why he is one the UK’s leading cabaret artists. With quick wit, comedic timing, and quick thinking when he fluffed the odd line, he showed real humour, which captured the audience completely revealing a wonderful and warm personality. To top it off he has found a wonderful new talent of playing the triangle! Twankey’s scenes especially with Michael Garland who played the Emperor of China worked extremely well and were very funny indeed.
Lee Latchford-Evans who played Aladdin is well-known for being one fifth of the pop super group, Steps. He played the lead character well but in my view lacked commanding acting presence on stage. “You May Call Me the Baddie” but as a lead role in a pantomime the audience need to believe in you and follow your story. For me I am afraid this just didn’t happen.
However … saying that, all credit to Lee the singer, his magic carpet routine was wonderfully thought out and he does have the most amazing voice, which was shown off brilliantly during his moving and emotionally captivating duet with Rebecca Keatley who played Princess Jasmine with such elegance.
The Spirit of the Lamp played by Natalie Turner was a small but beautiful part and she played it well while the Genie of the Lamp was a rather “Deeper shade of Blue” and completely bizarre!! Although it had the strong voice performance of Brian Blessed behind it, using a huge ‘Mascot’ like genie on the stage really didn’t work for me and lacked character!! They really should have a real person playing the part who could have even lip synced the voice of Brian to make the part really funny and believable.
For me the whole show was held up and kept together beautifully by one person and one person alone, the comedy genius of Vikki Stone. In a first for Worthing Theatres, she plays the amazing male ‘baddie’ character of Abanazar with such zest and vibrance you just wanted more and more and more!!! The audience absolutely loved her, they ‘booed’ so loudly at the character while at the same time they cheered her on!! You could see through the whole show that she was really enjoying the character and if Vikki doesn’t win an award for ‘Best Baddie’ after being twice nominated before at The Great British Panto Awards then there is no justice!!
Aladdin runs at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing till January 1, 2019.
To book tickets online from £13.50, click here:
