Aladdin (Cambridge panto)

Aladdin in the script by Al Morley (who just happens to be the theatre's head of marketing) and Matt Crosby (clocking up his tenth Dame for the theatre) is a stylish affair. Director David Grindley, costume designer Sue Simmering and choreographer Kevan Allen mke their own contributions.

You expect a university town audience to be quick on the uptake, and the one on the opening night was at full alert. There are some strong voices in the cast, even if not all the words of the lyrics are helped by the sound system, from Lauren Rae's Inanna (the genie of the ring) onwards from the prologue.

Musical direction is by Steve Geere. Twists in the plot include Stephen Beckett's Abanazar as the machiavellian advisor to the bankrupt Emperor of Richard Earl. There's a clever on-stage costume change for Crosby's Widow Twankey; he also produces some interesting falsetto in the second half.

No panto would be complete without a slop scene; this one happens in the laundry in the second act. Aladdin is a brisk young lad, ripe for adventure in Lowri Watson's characterisation. The strong-minded Princess is Philippa Stefani; she and Watson make much of their solos and duets.

The limber genie of the lamp is Cavin Cornwall, definitely a spirit to be kept on your side – even when he plays by the rule-book. Sam Howe is the hapless Wishee Washee, as much a trouble to his family as he is liked and egged on by the children in the audience.

Aladdin runs at the Cambridge Arts Theatre until 1 January.