Aladdin: A Pantomime

Aladdin: A Pantomime
Written by Ben Crocker. Directed by Sue Cherry. Noarlunga Theatre Company Inc. The Arts Centre, Port Noarlunga. 3-11 November, 2017.

If it’s good-hearted, high-spirited fun that you seek, the team at Noarlunga have got you covered with a charming panto that may be short on polish but is long on likeability. With a colourful range of characters out to either help or hinder the young hero Aladdin in his adventures, and a number of low-key-but-mostly-charming songs-and-dances along the way, there should be something to please all ages here.

The standout performer is undoubtedly Cherylene O’Brien, doing consistently wonderful work in her demanding role as the moustached villain of the piece, but virtually everyone on stage brings the kind of personality and energy to their part that helps a show like this fairly rollick along. Special mention is also due to young Anneka Victory, making a delightful impression with no words at her disposal.

When a show sets out so eagerly to whisk its audience away into a magical faraway land, and succeeds as well as this one does, its shortcomings have a relatively minor impact – but one does wish that the harmony singing had been at least a little more pleasing to the ear. Some performers are tasked with delivering solo or duet numbers that end up communicating too much discomfort or hesitance, rather than the intended emotional state of the character they’re playing.

With clever set design that brings its own kind of humour to the stage, and costumes that look a real treat, this is an old-fashioned good time at the theatre that should succeed in putting a smile on your face.

Anthony Vawser

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