REVIEW: Aladdin – The Swan Theatre, Worcester (Monday, December 2 to Sunday, January 5, 2025).
Showtime! stars rating: * * * * *
CHRISTMAS comes but once a year… and so does a fun-filled, frantic festive cracker of show like this.
And my word, aren’t we spoiled for riches. For Santa’s really pushed the sleigh out this year, ably helped by Swan panto director Ian Good, who’s brought in some top-of-the-tree talent to push the whole thing along at a cracking pace.
There’s breakdancing that will blow your mind, let alone create cracks in one’s already creaking corset, a leading character voice soulful enough to shatter the nearest chandelier, and dancing that will have you rocking in the aisles.
This may be a tale from the Arabian Nights but believe me, these increasingly dark Worcester Nights presently belong to the supremely talented artists now having a whale of a time down at The Moors.
And every one’s a star. Take Abanazar (Sean McLevy) who so calmly and professionally dealt with a temporary sound hitch right at the start. Then on bounces Aaron Corbett as police sergeant Pod, reeling in nets full of laughs right from the word go.
Next, we have Nathan Blyth’s Wishee Washee who works a capacity crowd like putty, squeezing and teasing as if there’s no tomorrow. Nathan’s a Brummie and is the real thing, a welcome change for a populace which has almost been blinded to linguistic reality by the Peaky Blinders.
Aladdin being a tale of good – or should that be Ian Good? - triumphing over not-all-that-good, the top role needs to be played by someone as squeaky clean as the squeakiest clean thing you’ve ever encountered.
Meet Ilya Akinfiev, the poor boy from the wrong side of the camel compound who has set his turban on the delectable Princess Jasmine, played in gloriously regal style by Esther Foga.
And what a right royal, soulful voice has her right royal highness. I found myself longing to hear her sing the next number, every one of her vocal contributions ringing in the rafters long after the last note had rung out.
Then there’s Aimee Cupper as Spirit of the Ring, whose voice also cuts through this Arabian night to remember like a freshly sharpened scimitar.
Nevertheless, the glittering coin that we must find in this rich Christmas pudding has got to be Ian Good. I always start to sink lower and lower in my seat when the Dame goes on the rampage, but I shouldn’t have worried, for tonight Widow Twankey has set her sights and hopes of eventual matrimony on some hapless chap by the name of Steve.
Hello Steve. I can see you, hiding in the corner near the disabled toilets door. Oh yes, I can. Let’s hear it for Steve, what a sport. Dragged on stage to sing a number that will inevitably and rudely turn his tongue into a reef knot, the boy done good, oh yes.
All pantos need piles and piles of pace, and this is supplied in great store by Megan Coates’ choreography, which in turn is powered along by a top-rate band led by musical director Rudy Percival. They were truly the throbbing pulse of this fabulous show.
Ah, but wait. I mentioned the breakdancing earlier, didn’t I? Well, it was utterly breath-taking. Chatting to ace practitioner Raman Parwana after the show provided a fascinating insight into the world of a man whose rubberised body not only seems to defy gravity, but also contorts itself into shapes that hitherto appear to have been unknown on this planet.
So, wow. And wow again for a fantastic show, presented by a lovely set of people, and directed by a man who is the undisputed master of his craft.
The Worcester Rep never lets the good people of the Faithful City down during the Christmas season, and this year is most certainly no exception, serving up the aforesaid festive feast of fun and frolics.
Oh yes indeed, Aladdin is an absolute must-see for all the family. Thoroughly recommended!
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