A DIRECTOR once told me pantomime is like making a christmas pudding – you need the right ingredients. But with Aladdin at the Millfield Arts Centre, while all the ingredients are there – traditional panto characters, check, silly gags, check, lots of audience participation, check, and colourful costumes, check – it seems to be lacking in that vital cherry on top – a bit of pizzazz!
With the cast half-way through their run, perhaps I caught them on a day when they were all pantoed out and it was a school matinee performance, but it was all just a bit lacklustre.
That is not to say that on a good day it wouldn’t be a good show. The sets were well executed, with the flying carpet scene a big hit and Neal Andrew as Aladdin did have the kids eating out of the palm of his hand. Caroline Koutsoudes also made a lovely Princess Jasmine, while Ross Mullan’s Abanazer was suitably dark while comic, but it was Ben Redfern who stole the show as the stupid but loveable Wishee Washee.
Unfortunately, despite her fabulous costumes, I found Widow Twankey just the wrong side of crude and those elements that keep the adults in the audience happy never seemed to transpire – that’s if you don’t count the scantily clad female dancers for dad!
That aside, the children in the audience really did enjoy themselves and even if I didn’t get the giant puppet genie and spirit they certainly loved them.
Aladdin runs at the Millfield Arts Centre, Silver Street, Edmonton, until Sunday, January 3. Tickets: 020 8807 6680 or www.millfieldartscentre.co.uk (£14.50-£16/£52 family) strong>
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