Aladdin dazzles

3:03pm Thursday 21st February 2008

It's Chinese New Year and the end of panto season: it's got to be Aladdin!

Edmundian Players' cracker of a show was the traditional chop-suey of audience participation, sing-alongs and storytelling, served up with more well-cooked corn than a tanker full of gasohol.

Fiona Harrison, an animated Aladdin, made a dazzling principal boy with her solo songs, such as Someone Who Needs Me.

Neil Hawkes' energy and personality made for a likable Wishee-Washee, while Bob King made a popular Widow Twanky.

Pantomime's shameless cross-casting was carried through into the cameo roles. Typhoo, a policeman, was played by Sue Miller, who knows instinctively how to deliver the laughs.

Newcomer Isabelle Gardner was charming as the myopic taxi driver Rick Shaw. She is one to watch and her solo, You Were Made For Me was a delight.

Dave Young made for a deliciously evil villain in Abanazar and Jackie Howting relished playing the battleaxe, Empress Dragona.

Laura Power's choreography in Chinatown made good use of the limited space.

Ably assisted by the seamless musical skills of Roger Swift, director Matt Power has again assembled a great ensemble with all the joie de vive that is the hallmark of an Edmundian production.

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