A Very Special Aladdin At The Stephen Joseph Theatre

Scarborough’s Christmas Show at the iconic SJT never fails to delight. If only we could bottle this festive fizz to bring us good cheer throughout the winter months.

There is always a wonderful intimacy here, an instant bond between audience and actors performing in the round, which you couldn’t possibly hope for in a larger conventional theatre. It’s an atmosphere happily in tune with the taste for glorious informality and visual exuberance of the modern theatre-goer, especially at this time of year.

Aladdin sweeps us at a hundred miles an hour from Scarboretia to Hairy Bob’s Cave on a magic carpet of pantoesque fun and frivolity, mayhem and madness.

The multi-tasking, multi-talented, all-singing, all-dancing cast of super troupers - superbly choreographed by Stephanie Dattani - bounce on and off like circus acrobats and that’s before they begin to perform their tricks.

Matthew Koon excels in the title role, strong in stage presence and sure- footed in everything. He especially needs to be when whizzing around on the magic carpet!

Jessica Dennis is a cuddly bundle of northern fun, keeping a motherly eye on her son, Aladdin, except when hypnotised by the wicked would-be wizard, Barcaza. David Ahmad has got the role of hiss-able pantomime villain for life, if he wants it. He certainly enjoyed winding up the kids who gave back as good as they got, all in the best of humour.

Rub the famous lamp and out pops Carl Patrick, always an audience favourite, as the genie, a bit of a blunderer if truth be told, getting his magic mixed up. A master of the quick change he went from one glittering vision to another in the time it takes to babble Michael Bublé, his apparent favourite

Ash Weir throws herself into the role of reluctant princess, fed up with giving the royal wave, preferring to pluck out of the air a different kind of illusion - as magician. She also does a mean chicken impression!

Truly it is a night of magic where we see almost everybody doing the old ‘switcharoo’, making us believe in make believe, mesmerised by the glitter balls thrown off by Barcaza, the lights playing on the snow falling from the sky and the power of live theatre.

This original take on an ever-popular theme, adapted imaginatively by Nick Lane from a version by Hanna Diyab, is directed with aplomb by Gemma Fairlie.

Special praise needs to be accorded to Simon Slater’s foot-tapping music which underscores the action. There are some memorably tuneful set-pieces and a couple of belting show stoppers.

It’s a clever, slick, powerful production, heartwarming for the adults and a riotous hoot for the youngsters. We all came away with the feel-good factor, never to be sneezed at on these cold nights!

Matthew Koon Photo: Tony Bartholomew

Aladdin runs at the SJT, Scarborough until 28 December.
Box Office 01723 370541
www.sjt.uk.com

Designer: Helen Coyston
Lighting Designer: Mark ‘Tigger’ Johnson
Composer, Sound Designer and Magic Consultant: Simon Slater
Choreographer: Stephanie Dattani
Wardrobe Supervisor: Julia Perry-Mook
Musical Director: Alex Weatherhill
Casting Director: Sarah Hughes CDG