Aladdin

Reporter: Colin Meredith
Date online: 12/06/2008

The Annual Pantomime at the Gracie Fields Theatre has gone from strength to strength with each passing year and this years production of Aladdin is yet another triumph.

Directors Colin Meredith and Paul Oldham have given this production shape and pattern and it moves at a cracking pace. There is not a weak link to be found in the cast who all handle this witty script with great skill. Paul Oldham as Wishee Washee has the audience eating out of his hand from his first hilarious entrance and involves the audience all evening.

Hayley Tamaddon is a sparkling Aladdin and is in great voice alongside an appealing Sue McArdle as Princess So Shy. Colin Meredith helps the pace along as an engaging Widow Twankey and is helped by Sherry Ormerod as the bossy Empress. Russell Richardson holds the balance of power as Abanazer and is greeted with the usual roars of disapproval at his every entrance.

Jason Ward plays both Ping Pong and the Genie with convincing contrast and Katie McGlynn completes the cast as a delightful panda. The team of dancers came close to stealing the show, and MD Martin Hughes is to be congratulated on an impressive musical contribution to the shows success. The script did not have one mucky moment and has all the ingredients of a successful panto and the first night audience were not disappointed for one minute.

Aladdin
Meredith Productions
Gracie Fields Theatre
23 December 2004