Aladdin

ALISON CROOSE

The best traditions of pantomime are alive and kicking at Hunstanton, where the volume of audience participation clearly scored the show as a big hit.

All the vital ingredients are there – fun and laughter, singing and dancing.

But key to the success is the way these elements blend into a slick, colourful family show delivered by an excellent cast of real troupers.

The decibels soared as we cheered and clapped the goodies and hissed and booed the “baddie” as young and older were infected with the joyous spirit of pantomime.

Heacham's Roger Dean is a familiar figure on the Princess Theatre stage but never before in outrageous frocks and hats.

However he is familiar with the role of dame and performed with wit, warmth and energy.

Particularly impressive was Neil Hurst as the lovable Wishee Washee, injecting considerable pace and humour and demonstrating he has no mean singing voice.

The show's director, Michael Garland, was suitably villainous as the evil Abanazer and gave a powerful performance which contrasted with the goodness of Aladdin (Michelle Connolly), Princess Lotus Blossom (Jane Kahler) and the highly comic Sgt Pong (James Campbell).

Performa Academy of Dance and Theatre Arts at Swaffham provided a strong team of dancers in a show which was visually very impressive, especially the colour-co-ordinated finale.

Aladdin continues at the Princess Theatre until January 7. Box office: 01485 532252.