Bling and Monkey Magic at the Lyric Theatre's Christmas Pantomime, 'Aladdin' Review by Fiona Lister
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Aladdin sparkles at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
(Showing until 31st December)
London’s best Christmas pantomime has opened in Hammersmith! Last night the Lyric Theatre raised its colourful psychedelic curtain on ‘Aladdin’, a show overflowing with goodies, baddies, bling, wit and a magical flying carpet. Panto lovers are flocking to see this hilarious East meets West production and it already has a cult following. Upon arrival the press were greeted with shiny gold chocolate coins and by the end of the night we were jubilant and chanting “Wishy Washy, Funky Monkey!” There’s even a pantomime camel and a flying carpet!
Produced by Imogen Kinchin and co-written by Joel Horwood, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and Director Steve Marmion, Aladdin is very different from traditional British pantomime. Yes, there are men and women dressed in funny costumes and it’s thigh-slappingly slapstick, but it’s more hip hop than Hinge & Brackett. The set design by Tom Scutt is bursting with multicoloured hues of pink, purple and gold and Widow Twankey’s launderette is more posh wash than your average spin and dry. Combined with the Lighting by Philip Gladwell, the overall set is magical. This funky production rocks along with songs by Britney, Queen and MC Hammer under the musical direction of Corin Buckeridge – Tom Mills is Sound Designer, Arranger and Composer. Mark Smith’s choreography is superb and this delightful pantomime rocks da house in a very street kid way; it will certainly appeal to teenagers, as well as children. The script overflows with witty one-liners and the animated cast looks like they are having tremendous fun; you can’t help but join in the high jinks and laugh along with them. I found myself standing up to catch the sweets thrown by the cast into the audience. It’s “Amazeplums!”
The Lyric’s resident youth theatre, The Lyric Young Company, embraces the early development of budding actors. Sixteen members of the talented troupe appear next to established West End musical actors, including Steven Webb (star of the recent West End show ‘Betwixt!’). They are: Adam Jonathon Anouer; Korein Brown; Natalia Biglou; Jonathan Cramp; Megan Crawford; Krystal Dockery; Nadine Gray; Charlotte Hall; Amy Jackson; Glen Matthews; Yolanda Mercy; Joana Nastari; Rachel Packford; Ted Riley; Sam Thompson and Jamael Westman.
Steven Webb plays the role of Wishy Washy. Dressed in a bright blue monkey outfit with matching furry ears and the largest rubbery looking monkey feet, Webb steals the limelight and wins the hearts of children and adults; he leaps, dances and sings to Britney and Queen songs accompanied by a full orchestra. “Wishy Washy, Funky Monkey!” shouts Webb as he shimmies about on stage with his huge bulbous creature feet, enticing the audience to sway their arms in the air and ape his monkey actions. During the interval a group of children kept repeating the mantra. They loved the show with one child so excited at the site of Wishy Washy that she sobbed when he was put through a washing machine, shrunk and then rung out through a mangle (special effects I hasten to add!). Webb is becoming a tour de force of musical theatre; he possesses impeccable comic timing and has a tremendously haunting singing voice. I was recently fortunate enough to see him perform live on stage at composer and lyricist Dougal Irivine’s ‘Accoustic Overtures’ album launch on Battersea Barge, where his rendition of ‘Simple’ captivated the entire audience. Last year he performed in Dick Whittington and his Cat (also at the Lyric Theatre).
Hammed Animashaun plays the role of the dashing hero, Aladdin. Animashaun’s theatre credits include: Mogadishu for the Lyric (also Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester); Seven New Plays (Kids Company at National Theatre Studio); Superhuman (SPID Theatre); Money and Rain; Othello; Tagged and Rudi (Half Moon/Scriptworks). Animashaun is certainly down with the kidz in a P. Diddy way and they love him. The man about town is looking for his princess, a role played by Dominique Moore. Move over Beyoncé! Ms Moore dazzles the teenage boys as a very hip princess. Dressed in a copper silk gown with gold glitter, Princess Karen finds romance with her hip hop man of street bling. Ms Moore’s stage presence shines through and she has a tremendous, soulful singing voice. Theatre credits include: Rough Cuts (Royal Court); The Lion King (Lyceum); Whistle Down The Wind (Aldwych); Annie (Victoria Palace); Hey Mr Producer! (Lyceum); Oliver! (London Palladium) and Royal Galas (Royal Albert Hall).
Shaun Prendergast plays the role of Widow Twankey. Sporting a most elaborate costume, the most famous pantomime dame in the business sweeps on stage wearing a dress from which socks and laundry hang. Twankey is a brilliant comic foil to the principal boy, Aladdin. The bad gags and one liners-flow, with the feisty pantomime Dame accusing a group of ladies seated in the front row of having adorned themselves in jewellery from Claire’s Accessories. By the end of the panto, Prendergast and Webb look like they are trying terribly hard not to corpse which just makes the audience laugh louder. They are a fabulous comedy duo and everyone loved their act. Last year, Prendergast appeared at the Lyric in Dick Whittington and his Cat with Webb. Prendergast’s theatre credits include: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Vaudeville); The Glee Club (Duchess/Bath); Hamlet, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing (Phoenix Theatre for Renaissance Theatre Co); A Going Concern (Hampstead); Suicide in B Flat, Macbeth (BAC); Twelfth Night (Renaissance Theatre Co/Riverside Studios); Glamour (Nottingham Playhouse), to name a few!
Nigel Betts makes a terrific Genie/Emperor. Dressed like a cross between an Elvis impersonator and a Meat Loaf fan, he delivers his own interpretation of MC Hammer’s ‘Hammer Time’ especially for Hammersmith. Betts is a tremendous character actor and his theatre appearances include roles in: War Horse (New London Theatre); The 39 Steps (Criterion) and Tinderbox (Bush).
The pantomime bad boy, Abanazer, is played by Simon Kunz who looks a little like Ming from ‘Buck Rogers’ and there are lots of hisses and boos when this horrible evil one steps onto the stage wearing a flashing ring. After the show I spied a woman in the foyer wearing the same fabulous piece of jewellery. “I’m a relative!’” she proudly explained.
Sophia Nomvete dazzles audiences in her role as Ringo. Ms Nomvete’s bright pink hair and sparkling stage presence makes the audience cheer her on. I notice in the programme that she is quoted as saying, “I love panto because….I can laugh as much as the audience does!” Laughter was certainly the best medicine on Friday night. Ms Nomvete’s theatre credits include roles in: Shakespeare’s Cleopatra (Nuffield Theatre); The Grimm Tales (Manchester Library Theatre); England People Very Nice (National Theatre); Our House (UK Tour); Footloose (Novello Theatre/Playhouse Theatre) and Fame (UK Tour).
“We’re having so much fun with this show,” explains Steven Webb. “Panto is something everyone can enjoy.”
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The Lyric Theatre has a national reputation of working with young people and their families through creative learning projects for schools and extensive programmes for budding actors. It’s great that young people have the chance to work in shows and pantomimes like Aladdin with top West End stars.
