ALADDIN

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Martin Dodd for UK Productions)

UK Productions return to Malvern Festival Theatre this yuletide with a gem of a pantomime, Aladdin! For those of you who have been locked away in the Cave of Wonders for all eternity, this is the tale of a poor street urchin with big dreams, who falls in love with a princess and the magical journey that takes him from China to Morocco and back again in order to make his dreams come true.

Hi-5 presenter, Chris Edgerley, is utterly adorable in the title role and arguably the most likeable Aladdin ever. Equally charming and immensely mischievous is Milkshake presenter, Derek Moran, as the cheeky chappy, Wishee Washee. Both run rings around their mother, Widow Twanky, who scrapes together a living running the local launderette. Ian Good is hilarious as this iconic dame, with a fabulous array of outrageous costumes and the most impressive collection of wigs ever seen. The energy that these three exude throughout the show is exhilarating. Rebecca Marks is a beautiful princess with a refreshingly determined attitude, as she fights for what she truly believes, despite being bullied by her father, the Emperor, convincingly played by Spencer K Gibbins. Mark James is brilliant as PC Pong, whose attempts to keep law and order, in Peking, are thwarted at every corner. The magical characters are perfectly presented by Carrie Rawlings, who is the feisty, yet lovable, Slave of the Ring, and Connor J Barrie, with his washboard abs and enchanting smile, as the Genie. Show business royalty, Robert Powell, is wonderful as the evil Abanazar. His booming voice and humility at being the butt of many jokes about his career and theatrical training make him the most endearing of baddies.

Jak Skelly, Emily Brown, Nikki Foulkes, Amelia Arnold and Sabrina Egerton, along with young dancers from Cecilia Hall Dance Centre, execute Alistair Bull’s choreography with precision and poise, under Dean McDermott’s up-beat musical direction. As well as being dame, Good is also the director and he does a superb job at telling the story of Aladdin, a factor that is often overlooked by many directors less skilled in the art of pantomime. Despite this production being rich in dialogue in the first act and comedic ‘business’ heavy in the second act, the story was never sacrificed for the sake of the slapstick scenes.

With songs ranging from chart hits to musicals, even an ingenious inclusion of You And Me (But Mostly Me) from The Book of Mormon, this panto really has something for everyone and is a guaranteed great outing for all the family. Aladdin runs until Sunday 4^th January 2015.

CALAMITY JANE

Malvern Festival Theatre

(Jamie Wilson Productions, Triumph Entertainment & Watermill Theatre Productions)

The touring revival of Calamity Jane is as fresh, gritty and feisty as the title character. This superb actor musician production by the innovative Watermill Theatre evokes all of the rustic, raw charm of the old Wild West. Hard, boastful and desperate to impress, Calamity travels to Chicago to recruit a star, Adelaide Adams, for the Deadwood Stage. But things don’t go too smoothly for her, as everyone in town favours the new girl and she struggles to keep her jealousy and pride in check. It takes her long-standing enemy Wild Bill Hickok to make her see sense.

Director, Nikolai Foster, more than succeeds in reworking the show making it greatly deserving of the standing ovation it received. Matthew Wright's design perfectly encapsulates the era and location, providing the perfect stage for Foster's vision as the audience is swiftly transported from scene to scene without ever leaving the timbered saloon.

Jody Prenger and Tom Lister head the immensely talented cast as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. Both give show stopping performances, with Lister treating us to the most wonderful acoustic rendition of 'My Heart Is Higher Than A Hawk'. Phoebe Street is perfect as the delectable Katie Brown, the wannabe actress from Chicago, and Rob Delany, who is also the musical director, and Sioned Saunders are absolutely adorable as musical double act, Francis Fryer and Susan, their piano duet an unmissable addition.

Nick Winston's choreography is authentically vibrant and slickly executed, while accompanied by the amazing musical skills of the entire cast, some of whom play more than one instrument. The musical numbers, including The Dark Hills of Dakota and The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), are given new life and the hoe-down finale leaves it impossible not to clap and tap along as it sweeps you up into a frenzy.

This is an absolute 'must-see' show and another triumph for the Watermill Theatre who make a welcome return to Malvern Theatres, following there last show, Radio Times starring Gary Wilmot. Calamity Jane runs until Saturday. Go and treat yourself! 

5 Stars