Aquarius at the Pantomime
After last years take on
Panto's which turned into something of a history lesson (sorry about
that) this article will be short and sweet "Oh no it won't, Oh yes it
will!" … see! It's starting again.
This year The Club's regular band of 'Pantophiles' went
to see Aladdin at Richmond Theatre. Simon Callow of Four Thingy's and a
Wotsit fame starred as Ebanarzar while Christopher Biggins was Widow
Twankey.
If the thought of Mr. Biggins in a dress didn't float
your boat Aladdin also starred Patsy Kensit as the Genies of both the
Ring and the Lamp, depending on the colour of her dress. I never did
find out who played Aladdin but I always thought principle boys should
be played by girls; well there you go, another tradition gone to the
wall.
Simon Callow made a
great tongue-in-cheek villain constantly erring into classical
Shakespeare prose to great comical effect. Some of his interaction with
the genie was hilarious. It was great entertainment and the audience
really got into the spirit of it all, which after all, is what Panto's
all about.
Another Panto tradition, I managed, was to drop a whole
box of chocolates on the floor and then step in them. Lyn said I did it
on purpose because she'd eaten all the nutty ones. That's not true of
course, it was the caramel ones! No doubt our dedicated little band of
addicts will soon be twisting Diana's arm to book seats for next years
Panto 'fix'.
Mike (He's behind you!) Baker
