Bucks &amp; Oxon

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1567" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Davood.jpg" alt="drag queen with red hair and chinese outfit singing with bearded man" class="wp-image-140332" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Davood.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Davood-766x800.jpg 766w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Davood-957x1000.jpg 957w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Davood-383x400.jpg 383w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Davood-1470x1536.jpg 1470w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Davood-503x525.jpg 503w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



I have to hand it to <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aylesbury Waterside Theatre</a> &#8211; it really knows how to deliver on panto. I had enjoyed 2021s Cinderella immensely, but I think this year&#8217;s <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aladdin</a> starring Davood Ghadami (Holby City, EastEnders and a stint dancing topless on Strictly &#8211; oh come on, you remember it) along with long-term AWT dreamteam of La Voix and Andy Collins, might have pipped it. 



Collins, each year playing a version of the kind hearted village idiot, takes on the role of Wishy Washy, the brother of Aladdin (played with Northern Irish charm by Kian Zomorodian) who keeps inadvertently getting him into trouble. La Voix is their mother, Widow Twankey, playing the crowd like the pro, with the arch comic timing and warm persona that saw her reach the last four of Britain&#8217;s Got Talent back in 2014 and more recently RuPaul&#8217;s Queens of the Universe on Paramount +.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Andy-Collins.jpg" alt="panto dame lifting shirt out of bucket while fat man in hat looks on " class="wp-image-140334" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Andy-Collins.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Andy-Collins-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Andy-Collins-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Andy-Collins-400x266.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_La-Voix-and-Andy-Collins-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>La Voix and Andy Collins in action</figcaption></figure>



One thing I like about panto is its disregard for the rules of the theatre &#8211; it is, for example, totally random that the first scene of Aladdin should feature Andy Collins in a pastiche of Top Gun that morphs into a George Michael hit. Made no sense at all! I&#8217;m still not quite sure where the &#8216;ballet scene&#8217;, whereWishee Washee and Twanky danced with a balloon between, truly fitted into the action, but it was funny enough that I didn&#8217;t care.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1494" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_ballet.jpg" alt="man and woman in white ballet costumes on stage in aladdin at the aylesbury waterside theatre" class="wp-image-140337" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_ballet.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_ballet-800x797.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_ballet-1000x996.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_ballet-400x398.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_ballet-527x525.jpg 527w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>







This year&#8217;s panto villain, Ghadami, did a really fine job of giving the character more than an evil laugh and a sweep of the cloak &#8211; the swap between down-right nastiness and then chintzy &#8216;light entertainment&#8217; music filling the auditorium while failed magician Abanazar showed yet another trick that didn&#8217;t go quite right made his character much more interesting and amusing than the usual one dimensional baddie. He had great comic timing and you could sense he was enjoying his first rodeo as a panto villain; it really made a difference to the show. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="985" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_Davood-solo-2.jpg" alt="davood ghadami playing a panto villain at the aylesbury waterside theatre production of aladdin " class="wp-image-140335" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_Davood-solo-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_Davood-solo-2-800x525.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_Davood-solo-2-1000x657.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_Davood-solo-2-400x263.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_Davood-solo-2-799x525.jpg 799w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Ghadami wasn&#8217;t alone in revelling in his moment. Liam McEvoy, as the super-camp Genie, grabbed his role and really shook it for laughs.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2160" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_genie.jpg" alt="boy dressed in eastern costume with feather boa singing on stage in aladdin at aylesbury waterside theatre" class="wp-image-140336" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_genie.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_genie-556x800.jpg 556w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_genie-694x1000.jpg 694w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_genie-278x400.jpg 278w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_genie-1067x1536.jpg 1067w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_genie-1422x2048.jpg 1422w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_genie-365x525.jpg 365w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



One thing I&#8217;d say about Aladdin is that you could feel the depth of talent this year and how it gave a cohesion and confidence to the performance. In the past I&#8217;ve criticised the &#8216;helium&#8217; singing of some younger, local cast members but there&#8217;s clearly been investment in the supporting cast for 2022. Jenny O&#8217;Leary as the Spirit of the Lamp has a phenomenal voice and a confidence borne out of West End theatre credits including Heathers The Musical, and touring productions of We Will Rock You and Rent. Vas Constanti, who played the Emperor, has enjoyed stints on Miss Saigon, The Rocky Horror Show and Mobie Dick. Melanie Elizabeth as Princess Jasmine has her share of theatre credits too, most notably as the original cast ensemble for Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre, West End. And the choreographer, Aaron Renfree, has been reeled in from Starstruck and The Masked Singer.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1525" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_aladdinrubbinglamp.jpg" alt="woman in gold corset and man dressed in bright colours rubbing a lamp in aladdin at aylesbury waterside theatre" class="wp-image-140338" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_aladdinrubbinglamp.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_aladdinrubbinglamp-787x800.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_aladdinrubbinglamp-984x1000.jpg 984w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_aladdinrubbinglamp-393x400.jpg 393w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_aladdinrubbinglamp-516x525.jpg 516w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Jenny O&#8217;Leary as the Spirit of the Lamp with Kian Zomorodian as Aladdin</figcaption></figure>



That said, panto is never about thesping so much as the sense of fun. The now-famous set pieces of the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre pantos &#8211; the 12 Days of Christmas skit with its &#8220;bra made to fit three&#8221;; the sight of Collins panting his way around the auditorium getting into watergun fights with the kids (and sometimes the parents); the always amusing Old Macdonald Had a Farm where kids from the audience come up onto the stage to be gently teased by Collins &#8211; made the evening as familiar and fabulous as a pair of boa slippers. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="934" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_finding-the-lamp.jpg" alt="man playing aladdin standing on stage holding his lamp high with other dancers holding his costume " class="wp-image-140341" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_finding-the-lamp.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_finding-the-lamp-800x498.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_finding-the-lamp-1000x623.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_finding-the-lamp-400x249.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/AWT_Aladdin_finding-the-lamp-843x525.jpg 843w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Good for: Anyone who loves panto is going to get a kick from this performance. It&#8217;s particularly good for those parents who enjoy their own set of jokes that go way over little ones&#8217; heads. 



Not for: This isn&#8217;t a show aimed at pre-schoolers so if you&#8217;re looking for a Barney Live level of entertainment (are you really?!), it might not be for you.



&#8216;Aladdin&#8217; plays at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange St, Aylesbury HP20 1UG, until Mon 2 Jan ‘22. Tickets from £13 (no booking fee). <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book tickets.</a>

Panto review: ‘Aladdin’ at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

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