I have never been to a pantomime at Crewe's truly beautiful Lyceum Theatre before, but I am no stranger to Imagine Theatre's productions (the company producing the show). I knew therefore that the show would be a traditional panto with lots of silliness, fun gags for the kids and some adult stuff thrown in for good measure. And it was all of that and more.
The spectacle was there - colourful painted sets and cloths, silly OTT costumes, and a cast of principals who knew and understood the genre engaging perfectly with both young and old in this evening's press night audience. The one thing not in its favour this evening was the volume level. I have no idea why it needed to be so ear-piercingly loud, but would someone kindly advise the sound engineer that I now need hearing aids...!
Written by panto veteran and celebrated Dame, Eric Potts, one knew automatically that the show would be full of traditional routines and time-honoured responses, and it was. Lots of contemporary and local references added too which the Crewe audience loved.
Dancer and personality Louie Spence starred as The Genie Of The Ring, his hilariously uber-camp antics making us all laugh. We knew what to expect from him, and we were not disappointed. Coronation Street star Jamie Kenna was our baddie this evening, and we all loved to hate the commanding and snarling (but not too formidable) Abanazar. Another TV face came in the form of Milkshake's Kiera Nicole as the Princess Jasmine, playing opposite both her mother The Councillor (Sophie Hurst), and her love interest, the lacklustre son of Twanky Twins, Aladdin (Thomas A Chan). The other 'twin' Wishy, was the delightful Peter Kay look-and-sound-alike Ste Johnston, who, for this reviewer at least, absolutely stole the show on his every entrance. The up-for-a-lark and talented Malcolm Lord donned the frocks this evening as Widow Twankey, and the sonorous and nicely spoken Amelia Atherton gave a lovely performance as the Genie of The Lamp.
Aiding and abetting the principals were four ensemble dancers and cameo characters, as well as a junior ensemble of dancers taken from a local dancing / theatre school. The junior dancers were indeed excellent and kept up with the choreography superbly, as well as filling the stage and complimenting the acting in other scenes too. Such a pity though that the choreographer had decided to put them always at the back behind the much larger ensemble dancers, and so their talents were hidden from view majority of the time.
For a magical, fun-filled, laugh-a-minute, family-friendly Christmas panto, then you can't go far wrong with Crewe Lyceum's 'Aladdin'! [Watch out for Johnston's lovely rapport and beautiful ad libs with both cast and errant stage-struck youngsters!]
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 17.12.22
“much larger ensemble” what do you mean about that?
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with the sound tonight and we were sat in row H of the stalls..
ReplyDeleteWent last night nothing wrong with Sound that nght also, I thought it was very good.
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