As we step off the Hastings promenade, and enter the foyer of the White Rock Theatre through a curtain of cascading bubbles, the wet weather outside is soon forgotten and, as if by magic, soon we are in Peking for this year’s pantomime tale, Aladdin.
Richard Foster-King as Abanazar opens the show and, considering that this is only his second outing as a panto “baddie”, he quickly has the audience booing and hissing and, metaphorically, eating out of his hands. His insults are barbed, without going too far, and his lines are almost thrown out through the green lighting that falls on him every time he speaks.
The opening village scene introduces us to the hero of the tale, Aladdin, played by relative newcomer Louis Stockil. Having just left the national tour of Barnum, the circus musical, it isn’t long before Louis is showing of his circus talents and he blasts out the number while doing several acrobatic dance moves – including a triple back flip – and, as soon as the number is finished, he goes into a major speech just to show that he isn’t even out of breath!
Laine Theatre Arts Students Rhys Morgan, Joshua Moore, Ryan Anderson and George Grayson, the four male dancers in the show, provide transportation for Widow Twankey’s arrival as they carry her on stage – before unceremoniously dumping her on the floor. Neil Bromley, who is playing dame for the fifth time, interacts with the audience very well, provides plenty of laughs and makes a perfect double act with Wishee Washee (Ben Watson).
The star of the show, playing the role of the Slave of the Ring, is Louie Spence who, as expected, from the moment he explodes onto the stage in a golden shower of fireworks takes every opportunity to slip in a double entendre. His arrival onstage is not just greeted by applause, shouting and screaming, but by a palpable outpouring of love for one of the UK’s most popular TV celebrities and Louie responds with even more of his camp flamboyancy and also proves that, as well as being very funny indeed, he is, quite simply, a most amazing dancer.
The, surprisingly large and incredibly talented, cast is completed by Stephen McGlynn as the Emperor of China, Eleanor Sutton as Princess Jasmine and a juvenile chorus of dancers and Abanazar’s minions played by children from local schools and colleges.
This production has everything that the audience would expect from a traditional family pantomime, with great musical numbers that are sung brilliantly, corny comedy, superb scenery and lighting, a fair smattering of pyrotechnics, very complex but tightly managed choreography and sumptuous costumes that all come together to create a magical festive treat for the whole family.
***** Five Stars