'Aladdin' Review
Venue: Lyric Hammersmith
Dates: 19 Nov 2021 - 02 Jan 2022
Tickets: From £10
OUR VERDICT:
I’m going to try and keep this short, because to be perfectly honest I feel that your time would be better spent actually booking tickets to see Aladdin at the Lyric Hammersmith, rather than reading this review.
In brief, this magical carpet ride has been skilfully directed by Abigail Graham and written by award-winning comedian, actor and composer Vikki Stone (amazingly it is her debut panto, although she has acted in a few before).
It’s a boisterous, festive adventure for the whole family (and truly caters for all), following the familiar story of Aladdin on his quest to seek his fortune and find true love, except of course this version is filled with the Lyric’s brilliant signature twists.
Qasim Mahmood is a sprightly, loveable, track-suit-wearing Aladdin, who must battle against the Boris-equse, clown shoe-clad emperor (Kate Donnachie) and the malevolent Abanazer (Irvine Iqbal) to win the hand of Jasmine (Ellena Vincent), who is far more interested in pursuing a career graphic design than getting married.
The show’s opening number is a slightly chaotic rendition of Blur’s Parklife, except it’s not ‘Parklife’ it’s ‘Pan-to!’, and from then on, I don’t think I stopped smiling for the next 125 minutes.
The ingenious thing about that first song is that it puts the audience at ease from the get-go, as we’re all made to feel like we’re in on the panto joke.
There’s very little awkwardness, just a brilliantly observational and very funny script, a superb, likeable cast and some sparkling sets, costumes and lighting design that put the mega-budget productions of the West End to shame.
There are crowd-pleasing, tap along tunes from the likes of Lizzo, Coldplay and more, all beautifully sung - Ellena Vincent’s voice is particularly good, and I loved her Little Mix number (I think it was Little Mix…), filled with comic books and feathery wings.
My favourite song though had to be the completely brilliant Irvine Iqbal’s ‘A-A-Aladdin’, sung to the tune of Ra Ra Rasputin, of course. I was in tears, particularly during the reprise when it became ‘Ja-a-a-aasmin’.
His skilful performance throughout was a joy to behold, his comedy timing perfect; the audience roared with his growing exasperation when trying to get into the password-protected magical cave (“EVIL1234!”), along with his horribly familiar cries of ‘Next slide!’ in the recently refurbed palace press briefing room, complete with a photobombing Henry the Hoover...
Stephan Boyce is a very funny Dave Twankey who dishes up terrible puns (disclaimer - I love terrible puns) in a colourful laundrette that doubles up as a micro-brewery to make ends meet.
Wishy is also wonderful; kind and anti-consumerism, her big number is sung so beautifully and is genuinely very touching – bravo Gracie McGonigal.
Kate Donnachie is an incredibly energetic, captivating Genie – I could have done without the beatboxing though; Donnachie’s performance is more than enough without it.
Finally, and I don’t want to spoil anything, but the magic carpet moment is completely and utterly wonderful and had us (four fully grown adults…) deliberating how they did it at great length afterwards.
So go! Fly away with this wonderful production. It is a truly perfect panto.
On now until 02 Jan 2022. Ages 6+. Tickets from £10 (prices increase with demand, so book early for the best seats at the best prices).
Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Square, King Street, City of London, W6 0QL
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