Aladdin, Westenders, Theatr Brycheiniog

HOW fortunate were the people of Brecon to be able to escape a grey and chilly January by going to their local theatre to be enchanted by the pure magical escapism that was this year’s Westenders Panto Aladdin.

The first choral number set the mark by telling us that we were going to enjoy a “good, good night” and this year’s panto certainly didn’t disappoint. This year’s chorus was simply bursting with youthful exuberance.

For many of our local children this is where their love of performing arts and a taste for the unforgettable experience of being on stage will come from. Bravo to Westenders for filling the stage with such well drilled smiling, singing, dancing expressive and stunningly costumed youngsters, their enjoyment was infectious.

We were treated to a very convincing love match between Princess Jasmine and Aladdin beautifully played and sung by Lucy Childs and Luc Sinnadurai. They were contemporary, spirited, and completely natural with each other on stage. In a production filled with excellent comic cameo roles, the outstanding belly laughs for me came from another onstage coupling, that of Wishee Washee and her sidekick the gorilla. Julie Jones is a comic genius who attacked the role with heroic levels of physical ingenuity and energy. It might have been the mother and daughter connection at work here because Whishee and Bridie’s Gorilla seemed to have an almost telepathic ability to move around the performance space to create maximum slapstick comedy of the very best banana skin variety.

In many ways the sparkling set design for this production harked back to the more traditional beautifully painted pantomime backcloths that have lost a bit of favour in recent years. These proved to be a perfect backdrop for the lavish oriental colourwashes of Peking in Act 1 and the sense of perspective and intrigue that was needed in Act 2 where Aladdin is entombed in the cave. The opening number of Act 2 where the senior dancers set the scene with their LED-lit costumes were a taster of the bedazzling magical effects to come.

Every great panto should have a moment that is truly unforgettable, this year’s moment hit new heights of brilliance. Aladdin’s elevating carpet was an awe-inspiring sight, hovering over the heads of the enraptured audience. All the panto’s enchantment and ambition came together in this moment and to accompany the spectacle the duet being sung by the young lovers also soared to gorgeous emotional heights. Truly brilliant!

Of course all this “magic” doesn’t just happen but has been painstakingly created by the year long dedication of the Westenders team. Mike Charles and his talented directing team and Dean Cole and his inventive production team and an army of helpers all made this show such a soaring success.

I can’t think of another small town where there is such local talent on show at such a professional level. Westenders we salute you. Thank you for bringing so much colour and enchantment and of course laughter into our fantastic local theatre and into the lives of its hugely appreciative audiences. Long Live Panto!

HELEN EAST