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Panto: Aladdin
22/12/2006
Aladdin
Buxton Opera House
BEING here in Derbyshire, Aladdin's cave is like the Blue John
Cavern, complete with stalagmites and stalactites and lots of
sparkling precious stones.
Indeed, the sets are one of the many enlivening features of this
production.
Twanky's laundry, firmly and comically ruled over by Stirling
Rodger, playing the dame here for the eighth successive year, is a
place of many pleasures, and the Peking Palace is fit for an
emperor.
Panto at Buxton has the advantage of being staged in the fairytale
white-and-gold opera house that no designer could afford.
And, since this is the 15th year that Philip Dart has written and
directed the panto here for Channel Theatre, you can rely on its
appeal.
A lively eight-strong cast is headed by Juliette Kaplan, of Last of
the Summer Wine fame, as Sapphire, Slave of the Ring, and
Hollyoaks' Henry Luxembourg in the title role of the street kid who
finds the genie.
But the star of this panto, who rouses the kids in the audience
every time he comes on stage, is Adam Hills as Aladdin's bright and
breezy half-baked brother, Wishee Washee.
Indeed, there's an X Factor take-off, when boo-able Abanazar,
splendidly played by Jonathan Kemp, does an Elvis turn, and
Juliette Kaplan, draped in gold, attempts Big Spender.
Janine Pardo is a fetching Princess and sings well in her duets
with Aladdin.
Musical director Karl Pendlebury's three-man band work tirelessly
throughout and the show, as always, gives the opportunity to local
girls to try out their dance steps.
It has all the fun and traditional elements of a wholesome,
colourful family show and is highly recommended.
Until New Year's Day.
Philip Radcliffe
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