We are here celebrating the Theatre Royal’s 150th year and opening night of Aladdin has given the theatre a boost of anticipated energy as the public buzz around awaiting the show.
I am reminded of my first memories of going to a show as I see children dressed up clinging to parents and grandparents. They look bemused and intrigued by the theatre itself as for many (as it was for me) the Christmas pantomime is their first time in a theatre.
As we are seated and the lights go down the show begins and your transported to the Technicolor silliness that is pantomime. The set is glowing with glitz and colour as are the costumes. The wardrobe department went all out on Christopher Biggins as Widow Twanky. If pantomime had royalty, Biggins would be it and keeps the audience (and often the cast) laughing throughout. Simon Webb plays Aladdin and is playing it well, breaking out the dance moves and parrying the ‘blue’ jokes well. Ben Nickless is great getting the crowd rolling in the aisles with some of the fastest dialogue delivery I have ever heard.
I felt the children in the audience were bemused at the fact the adults were shouting out at the actors. I’d imagine being told normally to be quiet and not shout out amazed these newbies at there prospective responsible adults yelling and booing at the tops of their voices. The kids in the rows ahead of me kept looking round and only giggling at first but soon the boos for James Barron’s ‘baddy’ Abanazah or the cheers for Emilie Du Laslay’s Jasmine soon get louder and louder as the songs and jokes kept coming. In its 150th year the Theatre Royal have put on something special. There were laughs for all ages and rapturous applause at the final curtain. I’d recommend to see Aladdin in its five week run. It’s something that delights young and old alike.
Review by Adam Willis
Tickets available at www.trch.co.uk from £15 running until 10 Jan 2016
