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PurpleDragon · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:14 pm Post subject: Aladdin Panto, Aberdeen

On Wednesday we went to the pantomime with the school. They were slightly short handed so I got roped in (not very reluctantly, I have to admit ) along with Rachel.

We went to see Aladdin at His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen. 100 kids in a multitude of coaches. It was billed as The 3D Adventure of a Lifetime
with fortunately no exclamation marks (!!!!!!!!) and I have to say, it was really rather good.

The curtain opened to the bad guy Abanazar (Have A Banana) played by Stefan Dennis, who is apparently quite famous from things like Neighbours and River City (the second of which I have never heard of). The stage was all artificial smoke and he rolled in on his motorbike. This was the point Rachel started to cry. She stopped crying, briefly, during half time, when she was presented with a rather yummy icecream.

Widow Twanky was played by Alan McHugh and Aladdin was played by Jordan Young. I've never heard of them either. Perhaps I should get out more.

The genie was played by a cartoon, brought believably to life with the 3D goggles we were all issued with at the start. It was great fun to see all our kids trying to catch the spiders and bats that came out from the cave when Aladdin opened it. The effects really did come right up to you, and my son swears that he was bitten on the nose by a spider.

The singing was quite good, and the dancers were quite good as well. There was one dancer who looked scarily like someone I know and I couldn't take my eyes off her. It is weird to see someone you think you know up on stage like that.

Anyway. I had a thoroughly good time. I've never been to a panto before, except one time to see .. I dunno - the Singing Kettle or something like. Does that count?

Rachel hated it, and is probably scarred for life.
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baldowrie · Neepster Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 1159

OH yes she does!

We are off to our annual panto at The Kings Theatre in Edinburgh, we tried Dundee and found the acting amateurish and not worth paying to go and see..the school, bah humbug, did nothing as panto's are not religious!

We go every year for a day out of fun and laughter. The children throughly enjoy it and look forward to it as much as Christmas day.

I heard Stefan Dennis was at Aberdeen and supposed to be very good in panto, but I bet he will have a good run up against Allan Stewart and Grant Stott combo

Usually Andy Grey is in it but it would appear last year was his last year...the trio just bounced off each other and the ad libbing was incorrigible with the cast falling about in hysterics as they went off on a tangent when the got 'bored' with the same old script![/url]

wildgarlic · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:09 pm Post subject:

Sounds great... but I have to say that the Braemar Panto would give them a run for their money (oh yes they will) and they don't have big names to draw the audience. (oh no they don't)

Fantastic... and the money goes back into the community too.

I have some photos and will post them when I get the chance to go through them.
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Townie · Moderator Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 2724 Location: Fife

We are all off to the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline tomorrow night to see Cinderella..

We are really looking forward to it, the atmosphere, the cosy wee theratre and the excitement of everyone there is fabulous also its a nice build up to christmas day.
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