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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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Princess Jasmine,
played by Corrine Hickley and
Aladdin Sutton Arts Theatre
Sutton Coldfield
**** ALADDIN is one of the best traditional
pantomimes, and the most popular, as a full house on the opening
performance, a Saturday matinee, demonstrated. Panto is as integral a part of the festive season
as Father Christmas, turkey and mistletoe. You mess with that at your
peril. Fortunately, in the hands of Sutton Arts Theatre the tradition,
and production, was in safe hands. Casting a show such as this is difficult. Finding
performers who can act, dance, be comic and sing, stretches the talent
pool to its limits, but directors Emily Armstrong off stage, and Dexter
Whitehead on it, have come up trumps with a fine cast. Phebe Jackson stars in
the eponymous role. Energetic, sassy and funny, Phebe has a strong
singing voice, carrying the difficult A
Whole New World , steering it clear
from the pitfalls of saccharine blandness, to recreate a touching love
song. Her convincing love interest, Princess Jasmine, played by Corrine
Hickley plays her vocal part in delivering
A Whole New World
too, charming us all, as well as Aladdin. Aladdin’s nemesis, Abanazar, played
enthusiastically by Robbie Newton, had great fun, sneering and snarling
and being drowned out under a chorus of boos. It is said that there
He eschewed the camp, in favour of a straight
“man in a dress” portrayal, making the most of his wardrobe malfunction
as the show wore on, haranguing the audience, but selflessly avoiding
showboating in favour of keeping the narrative on the move. Josh Higgs as her hopeless, hapless son was the
perfect foil, and also played it straight, but was flat in the right
place!
The supporting cast is unusually strong with
Phoebe Hooper particularly impressive as feisty Alka, the diminutive
but, charismatic, head of the Sultan’s Guard. The Sultan himself, Ray
Lawrence, is unassuming and effective, as is Alka’s sidekick, Seltzer
(Christian Blundell). Indeed a particularly pleasing aspect of this
show is the youthfulness of the cast. Kira Mack, shimmies and shines as
the Guardian of the Ring, while Louis Sutherland injects fresh energy
into proceedings just when it is required as the Genie. Production values are strong. The dance sequences
are very tight thanks to a talented team, and choreographer Emma
Brookes, with the backline as in time as the front. There are plenty of
pyrotechnics, and the cast return home on a Star Wars spaceship which
flies over the audience to the wonderment of all. A lively, contemporaneous, script by Peter Wilman
is child, and family, friendly, free of adult double entrendres. I took along four guest critics , children, whose
response was one of absolute delight. There were a few first show
technical problems, but the cast overcame them, and lined the exits for
farewells and photos at the end, a gesture which was much appreciated by
an enthusiastic audience. Sutton Arts can be proud of a very good show
which delivers all that is required for the run up to Christmas. Runs
till 19th December. Gary Longden
05-12-15 |
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ain’t nothing like a dame and Dexter Whitehead stepped into those heels
as Widow Twankey for his dame debut. He did very well.