WITH snow blocking roads and crippling public transport, making it to Bromley’s Churchill Theatre for the opening weekend of panto looked about as likely as hitching a ride on a magic carpet.
A brief thaw on Saturday meant the way was clear for press night but the panto gods had one more nasty trick up their sleeves — striking lead actor Chris Till down with laryngitis and forcing him to cancel his performance.
With co-producer George Wood clutching a script, the air in the auditorium hung heavy with a sense of nervous anticipation as he slipped into Aladdin’s moccasins instead.
But any fears this series of unfortunate events was an ominous omen soon vanished in a theatrical puff of smoke.
With sumptuous costumes, an imaginative set and dazzling lighting and pyrotechnics, it’s a show dripping with expensive production values.
With so much effort put into making everything look fabulous, a panto of this size inevitably runs the risk of sacrificing charm in favour of razzle dazzle.
But while a deliberate attempt to move away from traditional panto conventions means it commits the cardinal sin of taking itself a little too seriously at times (a series of impromptu power ballads from Aladdin was more X Factor than fun factor), there’s enough magic in this genie’s lamp to keep everyone cheering, booing and heckling.
As is de rigueur in most pantomimes, page three girl turned TV presenter Melinda Messenger and former EastEnders actor Don Gilet are the star names getting bums on seats as the genie and villain Abanazar.
Gilet is obviously relishing the chance to ham it up and a surprisingly under-used Messenger does her best with hackneyed gags about her “lovely pair”.
With the celebrities taking a back seat, the show’s lesser known stars, including Adam Moss as Wishee Washee and Frances Mayli McCann as heroine Jasmine, are allowed to shine on their own.
However, stealing every scene and reducing both children and adults to tears of laughter is Jonathan D Ellis’s brilliantly outrageous Widow Twankey.
Like a hybrid between Su Pollard and Pat Butcher, it’s a performance bordering on genius, with costumes to rival Lady Gaga and a balletic dance with a balloon you’ll find hard to forget.
To quote Twankey herself, Ellis has that extra something which no other woman has.
Including a troupe of young, exuberant dancers and showstopping numbers, Aladdin is a sure-fire crowdpleaser.
Aladdin. The Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley. Until January 9. Call 0844 871 7620 or visit ambassadortickets.com/bromley
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