"Aladdin" marked the return to pantomime for this company after an absence of 6 years and from curtain-up they demonstrated their intention to deliver an impressive performance. Every ingredient you would expect to find in a traditional pantomime was included – colourful costumes, lively choreographed routines, pyrotechnics, songs and slapstick. The script was written by two stalwarts of SADOS, Brett Moore and Elaine Deathridge, who also produced and directed the show.
Abanazer (Andrew "PJ" Canham) quickly achieved his objective of being so disliked that booing and hissing would accompany every one of his future appearances on stage. In contrast, Slave of the Ring (Jennie Bourne) was well-cast and well-liked by the audience. Aladdin (Sarah Smith) gave a strong performance and her partnering with the sweet and sensitive Princess Jasmine (Abigail Bourne) provided balance. Widow Twankey (Jonathan Tibbs) was an exuberant dame and her son, Wishee Washee (Zack Colam) was a good foil. Emperor Minge (Ben White) was appropriately cast, as were the two comedy police constables (Nigel and Mark Hancocks).
Other players all performed well in their supporting roles. Unfortunately the volume of the accompanying music for some of the songs was, in my opinion, a tad too loud and tended to make it difficult for the vocalists to be heard.