Theatre / hayley tamaddon
Review: Aladdin, Hippodrome
There’s an old saying that goes something along the lines of, ‘if your stomach aches from laughing too much, you know it’s been a good panto’.
Actually, I may have just made that up. But it’s true and, with laughs aplenty, this production of Aladdin definitely provides the right core workout.
It’s bright, colourful, and silly. And full-on, from start to finish. Expect all the traditional elements of pantomime –but with plenty of added extras including large-scale puppetry, a truly magical flying carpet, and the best 3D animation I’ve seen in a theatre show.
The cast, including Joe Pasquale (Wishee Washee), Hayley Tamaddon (Princess Jasmine) and Marti Pellow (Abanazar) appear to be having a ball. They work very well together, even if Joe does reduce everyone to giggles on a regular basis.
Hippodrome panto regulars will love the very familiar voice of the genie (hello, Andy Ford) and it would be wrong not to mention David Robbins (who designs all his own incredible costumes) as Widow Twankey, Alexis Gerred as Aladdin, Kimberly Blake as Scheherazade (the Slave of the Ring) and Rebecca Bernice-Amissah as the Empress of China – don’t look at her daughter or the Blades of Doom will get you!
If I have a couple of minor quibbles, it’s that the balance between music and voices doesn’t seem quite right at the beginning (the former in danger of drowning out the latter) and that the smell (and taste) resulting from the numerous explosions and pyrotechnics gets a little overpowering at times.
This is a family show that will appeal across the generations. You’ll hear proper belly laughs from young and old alike but if you’re with very young children (or a wussy 50-year-old) you might want to offer them a reassuring hand to hold during some scenes, particularly once you’ve been cued to put your 3D specs on.
A festive treat, for sure.
Aladdin continues at the Hippodrome until Sunday, January 7. For more info and to buy tickets, visit www.atgtickets.com/shows/aladdin-2/bristol-hippodrome
Read more: Interview: (((ON PA))) & Adventure Bureau
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