Reader Reviews
Aladdin (Old Vic Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Irritating and dull. The odd line sparkles but every character seems so insular and glib. Very disappointing. - addicted to theatre | 20 Apr 10 |
| excellent show, really stays in my mind. the aladdin and widow twankey were awsome!! - 81.149.169.28) | 16 Dec 06 |
| I have been brought up on one of the country's leading Pantomimes - Berwick Kaler in York. So, I was very curious to see what this was like. In truth, it was good and bad in parts. Ian Mc Kellen is a fine dame. I think he could do with pushing his performance a bit harder, as at times he struggles to gain the required level of enthusiasm from the audience. But on the whole, he's a delight to watch. His last big number, in a burlesque kind of style, is outstanding, and very funny. Also outstanding is Roger Allam as Ebeneezer. He pitches it perfectly between humour and evil. There were also nice performances from Hanky and Panky and the Emperor.If only the same could be said for Frances Barber. She seemed to be the classic case of an actress ill at ease in pantomime, and it showed. She had no warmth on stage, and didn't seem to get the feel of pantomine at all. The set and stage effects I would highly commend. I went to an evening performance, but was a little uneasy with the humour, given there were still quite a few children in the audience. Double meaning is fine, but on quite few occasions it seemed to veer into more crude territory, which pushed it just a little too far for a family show. If the directors had seen a York pantomime, they would realise the consummate skill of matching up the enjoyment of the adults and the children. Even so, it was an enjoyable evening and I will return next year if they decide to run for a third time with Ian Mc Kellen. - 84.12.185.109) | 13 Jan 06 |
| The most fun I have had in a theatre since The Producers! Such energy and humour. As many genuine laughs as groans at the corny jokes. Performances great all round. Confirmed that Roger Allam would be perfet for Arthur in Spamalot! - 62.253.219.238) | 11 Jan 06 |
| I went to the panto last night (29/12) with family and friends and all had a great time. Sir Ian McKellern was excellent as a very camp widow twankey, he really seemed to be enjoying himself. The show bounced along with cheesy but topical jokes keeping the audiance happy and involved. I particularly liked Hanky and Panky as the acrobatic cop partnership whilst Neil McDermott was a convincing Aladdin who gelled well with both young and old in the audiance. Also good performances from Roger Allam as the wicked Abbanaza and Frances Barber as not so dim sum. It was refreshing to see a professional panto with just enough original music/songs to show off the wider talents of the cast. - 82.9.16.49) | 30 Dec 05 |
| I saw this panto last week and really enjoyed it. Much better than last years production, everything fell into place alot easier and the actors seemed much better. Nice to see some acrobatics from the policeman who livened it up even more there were some very witty jokes. Maybe not to everyones taste but I certainly had a good evening. - 86.139.130.173) | 26 Dec 05 |
| What happened to Panto? This is definitely NOT "family fun" more "massage the ego". I actually thought it unprofessional and am much happier with my local theatre's production. - 84.66.24.114) | 20 Dec 05 |
| I'm afraid I was hideously embarrassed by this misconcieved production.......how can so much just be wrong. Funny how the National's panto Cinderella, all those years ago with Robert Stephens didn't work either. That didn't work because it was too overproduced. This Old Vic Aladdin is underproduced and under rehearsed and woeful. I'm afraid it would not be acceptable at a rep company, let alone the supposedly classy Old Vic. Where to lay the blame...well the material I guess, and with the director. I'm afraid I have yet to see a decent production by this director, whose productions are constantly saved by a staggeringly good cast or design....and by his connections. The only Emperor in this production is one with no clothes! - 195.92.168.174) | 19 Dec 05 |
| Why are people taking it so seriously? Hilarious! Utter delirious mayhem and fun. - 86.136.129.222) | 18 Dec 05 |
| Awful with a capital A Everyone connected with it should hang their heads in shame.Why mess around with tradition and turn what should be magic for a family audience into something filthy sordid and plain smutty. It's pretentious and high brow and completely unfunny. A disaster of epic proportions. Give it a miss - 86.130.191.198) | 18 Dec 05 |
| I saw this last night, press night, and my friend and I thought it so bad we left at the interval. The show seems to be a big ego trip for Sir Ian, but you realise very quickly that he just isn't very good at playing the dame. What his performance (and those of most of the rest of the cast) show you is how good and difficult panto is and that being a great actor doesn't mean you can entertain an audience by yourself -something surely essential in panto. The best example of this is Frances Barber. Aside from the fact that she kept fluffing her lines (how acceptable would that be for a 'proper' play?) she was on stage when the set broke down. As the curtain came down she told the audience that she didn't know any jokes and skipped off stage. The stage remained dark for a good five minutes. During a panto!! What was going on?! Tis show also contains whaty must be the worst ever ghost scene - rushed, badly timed and little interaction with the audience. Director Sean Mathias should be on the phone to someone like Roy Hudd begging for help if this is the best he can do. Something else that really annoyed me was the vulgarity of the script. Endless knob gags and lines about filling big holes just aren't suitable for panto. Saying that it was noticable how few children were in the audience. I just felt cheated by the whole thing. Do yourself a favour and go to your local panto. It will be cheaper and probably a lot more fun. I doubt it could be worse. - 195.92.67.70) | 17 Dec 05 |
| I said the same things as your reviewer last week and was informed that I was incorrect, I belive this is a vanity project for Sie Ian and I'm glad that somebody agress with me. - 80.229.17.168) | 17 Dec 05 |
