Aladdin

Published Tuesday 3 January 2006 at 16:05 by Jane McKell

A rare sight these days, a principal boy in the shapely, energetic, if a little too youthful form of Laurie Scarth, cast in truly traditional pantomime. The brightly painted picture book sets, dazzling costumes plus a marvellous mixture of music, choreography, character-filled story telling and comic mayhem all add up to super seasonal entertainment in Bournemouth this year. UK Production’s Aladdin has the talented Chris Jarvis at the helm leading the cast as Wishee Washee whilst writing and directing. He is a warm performer who knows his audience and works them with the ease of a true pro’ - everyone loves ‘squishy-squashy’. Ray Meagher is a suitably horrible Abanazar, his masterful malevolence moving the audience skilfully to loud booing from the start. Although Mark Squires is slick and sassy as Dame, I longed for the traditional cuddly, coarse Widow Twankey - a manly woman not a womanly-man. However Naughty Nigel Harvey provides huge value as the ‘Chinese Policeforce’ delighting children with pals, Ben and Sox. A real testosterone-tease, Maria Rice-Mundy is a curvaceous Slave of the Ring and Sarah Louise Day’s Princess Jasmine is a thoroughly modern miss, a mix of sweet and sour. The Emperor lacks status in the hands of Leon Kay but this, and the lack of a decent female vocalist, is forgiven on an entertaining Oriental magic carpet ride accompanied by local Stage Door Dance School Juveniles.