The Stage

Aladdin

Published Tuesday 21 December 2004 at 16:15 by Gerald Berkowitz

The Old Vic’s panto is an almost perfect blend of old and new, tradition and camp, kiddy fun and adult entertainment, along with being an opportunity for an eminent Shakespearean to let his hair down with an obvious enjoyment that is infectious.

Bille Brown’s script follows the traditional story with plenty of leeway to digress into a subplot of the Widow Twanky’s cabaret ambitions. Old groaners - “Is that my corset? Course it is” - sit easily side by side with Blair, Bush and Blunkett gags and theatrical in-jokes. A bit unusually, most of the songs are pleasant originals by Gareth Valentine but a new song by Elton John provides a nod to the genre’s usual magpie method.

Chief attraction for many is the opportunity to see Ian McKellen as the Widow and the knight clearly enjoys the opportunity for broad comic playing that includes not only the usual slapstick and double entendres but also a wicked turn as a Dietrich-like diva. The ten changes of ever-gaudier frocks culminate in a villain-vanquishing appearance as Boudica.

Roger Allam is delightfully droll as the baddie and Joe McFadden an attractive hero but it is Maureen Lipman’s Dim Sum who repeatedly steals her scenes and provides the comic engine driving the plot and keeping the energy level high.

The Hanky and Panky of Owen Sharpe and Joanna Page make excellent comic foils and their wallpapering scene is a prime example of the double level director Sean Mathias keeps the show operating on. Children enjoy the pure slapstick while adults can recognise an affectionate homage to silent film comedy.

Even the facts that pacing occasionally falters and the romantic leads aren’t as interesting as the comic figures, who must from time to time step aside to let the plot progress, are part of the tradition and are easily absorbed into the fun.