Writer: Will Brenton
Director: Clive Rowe
Panto season is well and truly upon us, and Clive Rowe is set to be one of Panto’s highest achievers, entering from stage left onto his 16th panto at Hackney Empire, this year as both star and director. Even after all these years, Rowe’s double role is highly successful yet again, providing a hysterical blend of puns, pop-mashups and magic carpets. Hackney Empire’s Aladdin is panto in its purest form.
Aladdin (Fred Double) is kind of heart, little of money, and beloved by the community of Hack-ne-lah. He’s also desperately in love with Jazz (Isabella Mason), an independently-minded precious teen in wonderful yellow plaid, whom he spies through the windows of her mansion. But Jazz’s maniacal father, the excellently named Mildew Funk (George Hayworth), is set on finding Jazz a highly wealthy husband, not the penniless Aladdin.
Suddenly a ‘long-lost aunt’ visits Aladdin and his mother Widow Twankey (Clive Rowe), promising a forgotten inheritance of untold riches, igniting a small hope for Aladdin and Jazz. All it takes is a quick trip into a cave to retrieve a lamp. But when it becomes clear that the ‘long-lost aunt’ is actually a sinister, trombone-playing villain, Abby-na-zaaar! (Natasha Lewis), Aladdin and his family are sent on a journey to save Hack-ne-lah and the Genie from her evil deeds.
Cleo Pettitt’s colourful set and costumes provide a flamboyant and versatile backdrop for an excellent ensemble. The inclusion of impressive young performers from the nearby performing arts school is an endearing choice and highlights what Panto is really about. The production elements are mostly overshadowed by Clive Rowe’s series of excellent outfit changes, complete with a useable handbag dress, power-drill bra that would make Madonna jealous, and full lamp outfit finale (that seemed to make the bows quite difficult).
Clive Rowe truly is the eminent Dame, the audience at his every whim and pun as he oscillates from fourth-wall breaks, a water-gun fight through the audience and powerful vocals. When not overshadowed, Hayworth as the jerky autocrat Mildew Funk is captivating, and Rishi Manuel as Aladdin’s self-conscious brother Wishy keeps the audience energised throughout. Natasha Lewis not only serves the perfect lesbian panto villain but delightfully and absolutely nails a trombone solo as well.
Predictably poppy songs get the crowd excited, including a hilariously earnest version of Kylie Minogue’s queer anthem Padam Padam as well as classic renditions of Dolly Parton’s 9-5. An excellent funky disco medley succeeds in demonstrating Kat B as a hugely dynamic performer as the flamboyantly dressed Genie.
Will Brenton provides a seriously funny script but there is nothing innovative in his plot, however, in-depth storytelling is not why people flock to Pantos. The production does well to avoid any previous controversies with choosing Aladdin as a panto (see Liverpool 2022) by avoiding all stereotypes. This production’s only downfall is the pacing and length, the energy faltering at times. It’s always fun to drag out the bad joke, but sometimes the plot feels rushed while at other times overdone. There are missed opportunities to make some of the gags topical and more impactful.
While the show might not give us everything, it certainly gives a whole lot of sparkling entertainment to work with. Perfect for the family, Hackney Empire’s Aladdin is all you need for some festive fun.
Runs until 31 December 2023
