Producing a pantomime on the Fringe theatre is not an easy ask. It's a difficult one to pull off well, since one automatically knows that it's impossible to compete with 'the big boys', but there are certain elements of the genre - colour, pizzazz and razzmatazz - which must be omnipresent. Fortunately for The Empty Space, a small theatre in an industrial unit tucked away behind Salford Quays, The Lowry Theatre are not presenting a panto this year, and as such, they are likely to have a much bigger pull.
This is the first year that The Empty Space have produced their own in-house pantomime, and it has obviously been a huge learning curve for all involved. Chosing the story of Aladdin, with a written-for-the-company script by Heather Phoenix, this was the first panto in a long time that has had a traditional Principal Boy, and that was truly a joy to see. I had thought that tradition had been abandonded long ago... happily not.
The story is the one we all know and love, except in this show, there is no Wishee-Washee. Here The Genie Of The Ring tries, but sadly misses the mark, to take on the audience-chatting and silliness routines (as well as doubling as The Genie of The Lamp too.....!) We follow the story with minimum set (only what is necessary) from Twankey's Laundry to the deep, dark and scary mountain cave, to the Princesses Palace, and of course, it all ends happily ever after... oh yes it does!
The jokes are not frequent enough, and sadly leave their target audience a little unamused if this evening's audience is anything to go by... the adults (mostly family and friends) seemed to be far more engaged than the few children I was able to watch.
The very appropriately named Matthew Christmas made for a very suitable Abanazar. Obviously very talented, he had a good rapport with the audience, and impressed with his speaking and singing voice [he did a reasonable Elvis Mickey-take too!]. Another talented, but in this case underused actress this evening was Heather Phoenix, channelling Josie Lawrence if playing Queenie in 'Blackadder', as The Empress.
Ali Babakordi played both Genie's with camp effeteness, Ella Holt was a thigh-slapping and forthright Aladdin, Ciara-Alexandra Booker was pretty and demure as Jasime, and Andrew Lambe pitched his Dame Tallulah Twankey somewhere between a traditional dame and a drag act.
Two very young children from the theatre's own theatre school played the palace guards, and they were hilarious; whilst a team of singing dancers from the school were used as ensemble. They worked well, but their costumes were poor, and they needed a change of costume one each entrance.
Lighting in general worked well (covering for the lack of set), but the music was too loud generally. The theatre space is not large and so not much amplification is required. We were subjected to Night Club noise levels.
A fair attenpt was made by all, and hopefully, as the cast continue their run, the pace will lift and the ad libs will become more frequent, engaging more with the young ones in the audience.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 19.12.22
on - 19.12.22
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