Review- Aladdin
December 10, 2008
Date Reviewed: 9th December, 2008
Venue: Sunderland Empire
I cannot imagine there is a more spectacular looking panto this Christmas, with large shimmering sets, great costumes and a first class flying carpet, this production of Aladdin has a lot going for it. Therefore I am disappointed that the show did not connect better with the audience.
The problem is there is no name for children to immediately connect with and try as hard as he might Steve Walls as Wishee Washee does not start to connect fully with the audience until well into the second half. The cast is led by Paul Michael Glaser, best known for Starsky and Hutch, as the evil Abanazar and Sheila Ferguson as the Genie with Anthony Kavanagh playing Aladdin and Kelly-Anne Gower bringing Princess Jasmine to life.
We follow Aladdin as he falls in love with the Princess, but follows the evil Abanazar to a cave where he finds a lamp that has magical powers. Now rich beyond his wildest dreams Aladdin can plan to marry the Princess until disguised as a lamp seller Abanazar takes his old lamp and becomes the master of the Genie.
But we know good conquers evil and the rightful owner will be restored in the end.
Unfortunately Dale Meeks as Widow Twanky does not appear too comfortable in the role and after successfully playing Dandini in last year’s production of Cinderella, he would have been more suited to the role of Wishee Washee.
This production has all the ingredients to make a superb show but falls short of doing so due to the material the cast have to work with and casting. However a stronger second half does go some way to redressing the balance.
John Dixon
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I have to disagree with the comments regarding Dale Meeks as Widow Twanky. I saw the first show and enjoyed it so much, I bought tickets for the following night. I loved Dale, especially in his show girl outfit. The fact that he’s tall, and in no way dainty, just made his Widow Twanky even more comical. He has great stage presence.
I also feel I have to mention the first class singing from various members of the cast. Sheila Ferguson’s voice was so powerful and she was great as the ‘kick some ass’ genie. The dancers were brilliant, and I loved watching their routines.
Paul was also great as the wicked Abanazar.
I thoroughly enjoyed the show from start to finish, and will be going back to see it in the new year.
Sarah
I completely agree with John Dixon that this has all the makings of the best pantomime of the season. However, I have to disagree about his assertion that it didn’t connect with the audience.
The atmosphere was electric before the curtain rose and as soon as the performance started it was very much a two-way experience between the cast and the audience. Without doubt I felt part of the show for every minute and that was largely thanks to Steve Walls as Wishee-Washee. His rapport with the audience was evident throughout and I was delighted to be part of his gang. I’d go as far to say that he carried the show with his warmth, humour, talent and ability to make every member of the audience feel special and part of the fun.
Take your children, take your granny, take your mum and dad. It’s a show not to be missed. If I get the chance to see it again I’ll definitely be back!
I was at Aladdin last night with my husband, mother and my 7 year old nephew, and I completely agree with the comments from Kate Swan, all four of us were excited as the curtain rose and within minutes we were absorbed into the energetic atmosphere created by the chemistry between Wishee Washee and Widow Twanky. All four of us were yelling and booing (in the right places of course) all of the way through, the jokes were timeless and the delivery of the comedy was second to none.
I am a Drama teacher at a Secondary school in Sunderland and also am involved in amateur dramatics, and so appreciated just how good Steve Walls was with the audience. How on earth can Mr Dixon come to the conclusion that his Wishee Washee character didn’t connect with the audience? It is bad enough that people like Steve Walls no doubt get a fraction of the pay that the “stars” they carry year on year get. To not even be billed, and then get an innacurate review such as Mr Dixons on top shows just how unfair the business is. The Northeast is a very talented region and I think that Steve Walls and Dale Meeks do us proud in this panto.
I have booked tickets for tonight for the pupils in my school and I plan to go again with family in the Christmas holidays.
After reading the review of Aladdin at the Sunderland Empire by Mr Dixon, I feel I must respond with my two pence worth. Mr Dixon has at least one good point I agree with, for example
“I cannot imagine there is a more spectacular looking panto this Christmas, with large shimmering sets, great costumes and a first class flying carpet, this production of Aladdin has a lot going for it”.
but the rest of his comments are unfounded in my opinion.
I come from a background of pantos and entertainment and the excitement in the audience from the offset was intense. As the first half unfolded, interaction with the audience was exemplary. The use of humor, which is set at different levels, had kids and adults rolling around for very different reasons. This complex dualism of humor is the spirit of pantomime. The two comic roles bounced well off each other and this was reflected by the reaction from the audience.
Steve Wall’s Wishee Washee was brilliant, from the first roll of his dice the kids were hooked. Jokes and ad-libs were in abundance.
The casting was well balanced, using local talent in the form of Dale Meeks, Steve Walls and the local dance school, playing with such stars as Kavanagh, Sheila Ferguson and Paul Michael Glaser. The characters portrayed were strong
and the vocals during the songs were of a high class, especially Sheila’s.
All in all the show is a classic romp of glittering outfits, camped slap stick and the required good versus evil story, which left all the audience on a high when it was time to leave.
I thank the full cast for making my night such a good one and i leave by saying that the North East is still the best place to find talented stars of the stage.
All the best to the cast… I’ll be back for more, I’m off to book my tickets now!
I have to agree that Dale Meeks would have been a great Wishee Washee. I’m afraid I found Steve Walls all a little one-note and quite charmless. You may be able to take the boy out of Butlins……he was an (all too) enthusiastic club turn and little else I’m afraid.
Like a couple of your previous people, i have been involved in Showbusiness in the past, albeit not majorly. I was at the Empire theatre to see Aladdin on Sunday 14th at 5:00. I thought the show was the best i have seen in the North East for years. What part of the show didn’t connect? The audience loved it from start to finish. I was interested to see what reviews the show had, and so i looked online. I can’t believe that this is also the review that went to the Stage Newspaper. He even ommited poor Steve Walls (Wishee Washee) altogether from the Stage version of his review, which is a disgrace. He was clearly loved by the children and adults alike from the word go. How does he come to the conclusion that Dale Meeks looked uncomfortable? The whole show was excellent. I known everyone has an opinion, but trust me if you haven’t seen it, the review above in no way reflects what you will see.
I’m not totally sure I went to see the same Panto as John Dixon!!
I went last night with my wife and two girls (Aged 4 & 12), and we all loved it! The kids laughed at all the right bits as did we!
Widow Twanky was fat and funny, my little one thought he/she was hilarious.
I felt that Wishee Washee played a blinder in that he connected with the little ones and the mum’s and dad’s, his gag’s were exactly what you would want from a panto; slap stick humour for the kids, a bit of innuendo for the grown-up’s; a very funny portrayal by Steve Walls.
The Genie was played very well, she had a pretty good voice too!! (and great legs…….)
The other stars of the show that have so far not had a mention are the little kids who sing and act their socks off, whoever had the job training the little ones deserves a pat on the back.
All in all a really great night out with the kids. And ‘bah humbug to you John Dixon!!!