| Lancette Arts Journal Founded in 2000 |
Theater Reviews From our Archives |
December 2004 |
Aladdin played at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto until Dec. 31, 2004
By Alidė Kohlhaas
Without a doubt, this year's Ross Petty production of the annual Christmas season family musical—read Canadian version of British pantomime—is one of the best he has presented to us. Director Ted Dykstra takes an old tale, Aladdin, and gives it a new twist with such great panache that it surely will please young and old alike. In fact, there is really nothing that anyone, except some curmudgeon who takes life too seriously, can find fault with in this year's show.
It is fast paced, offers the audience many chances to laugh at the verbal and physical humor, and it has a fine cast that understands what the heart of this kind of show is all about. While the script this year eschews political puns, it has plenty that take aim at show business, and even cast members. Petty must have heard my plea for a bit more raucous entertainment in my last year review to suit my unrepentant taste for English panto. Thanks! It was handed out in just the right amount to suit the local conditions. Besides, the show makes fun of all of us by showing how difficult it is for the English-speaking tongue to twist itself around foreign names. The outcome is hilarious.
I loved the on-the-mark exchanges between Petty, playing the villain, Abanazeer, and Jennifer Dale in the dual role of a narrating librarian and the alluring Sheherazade. She is a perfect match for Petty, who loves to be the kind of villain, who overshadows his opponents. Here he is put in his place deftly, thanks to a fine script, but also excellent timing by Dale.
In this version of Aladdin, taken out of its overt ancient Middle Eastern setting and placed into a modern no-man's-land, the Genie of the Lamp is played by Bret "Hitman" Hart, the former wrestler turned legit actor. His old profession offered the script writer and the director plenty of chances for lampooning. Hart, although perhaps not quite as much at ease with his new audience as with his old, still gave it his all. He certainly seemed to enjoy the fun at the expense of his former trade.
Aladdin in this version is a boy who would much rather ride his skateboard than help his mother, the widow Bender, in her dress-making shop. Adam Brazier, who could have easily relied just on his voice and good looks to play the part, instead makes sure we like him for the humour he injects into the role. Just watch him on that skateboard. It's a scream.
His mama is played by Derek McGrath, who has returned to the stage after more than 20 years just to play this part. He knows what it means to play the Dame in this kind of shtick. What I can give away is that she falls for Abanazeer, but I dare not tell you the first name of her late husband. To find that out you have to go to see Aladdin.
For the young set the musical highlight is, judging by the reaction, the Barenaked Ladies hit "If I had a Million Dollars". Even the older set knew the other highlight, Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride".
Top all of this off with the choreography by Tracy Flye and a first-rate dance cast and you have a winner on hand. These dancers handle the break-dancing — yes, you read right perfectly to the excellent musical accompaniment by David Warrack and his band of musicians.
Aladdin is, indeed, quite a carpeted skateboard ride. Don't miss it.
Copyright © 2004-9 CamKohl Arts Productions