Aladdin at the Oldham Coliseum Review
Aladdin
Oldham Coliseum
15 November 2014 to 10 January 2015
Reviewed by Debbie Tasker
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and last night we went along to the opening night of Aladdin at Oldham Coliseum for a large helping of Christmas spirit.
This traditional panto has everything you could want for a family night of entertainment.
Aladdin follows the familiar story. Set in China, Aladdin (Justine Bailey) lives with his Mum, Widow Twankey (Fine Time Fontayne who has just done a spell sharing a prison cell with Peter Barlow in Corrie) and brother Wishy Washy (the very comical Richard J Fletcher) running the local laundry. Aladdin meets Princess Jasmine (Nicole Evans) and falls in love but the course of true love doesn’t love smoothly and Jasmine is kidnapped by the baddie of the show Abanazar (Adonis Anthony). But of course there is a happy ending – how could there not be?
Widow Twankey is hilarious and provides most of the adult humour. As my granddaughter Abby, aged 12, pointed out her costumes get more outrageous in each scene from an oversized bowl of food, Minion, mummy and belly dancer you couldn’t help but smile every time she entered the stage. Wishy Washy also provides a lot of the silliness and laughs. Aladdin and Jasmine have fantastic singing voices and the whole cast put their all into it. My only negative is Abanazar when speaking, a lot of his lines were inaudible. The youngsters providing the backing dancers are also superb.
Most of the scenery is hand painted and it is quite a basic set. But don’t let that put you off! Special effects and elaborate props are not needed in this brilliant show. The laundry scene is the exceptional with all the bubbles and slipping and sliding. The laughter and giggles coming from the auditorium was infectious. All costumes are bold, bright and beautiful.
The score is very ‘now’ with Pharell Williams’ Happy, Meghan Trainors All About That Base and Frozen’s Let It Go included along with lots of other well-known songs we found ourselves singing along throughout. I even got up to dance for All About That Base but my grandson Kian, aged 10, made me sit down (spoilsport). Beverley Edmunds choreography is great too and uses the cast and their talents whenever possible.
All in all this is a fantastic seasonal treat. We left on a high after a wonderful evening.
Oldham Coliseum is situated on the outskirts of the town centre. It boasts stunning decor and it quite a small theatre so you feel the atmosphere of the audience around you. Staff are friendly and polite.
Before we went to the show we went to The Old Bill, Greaves Street this was truly the best Italian we have ever had. Reasonably priced with a pre theatre menu I can’t recommend it highly enough for a meal before your visit to Oldham Coliseum. Book though it was very very busy last night.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £7.50 to £60
Aladdin is at the Oldham Coliseum until 20 January 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0161 624 2829.
Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Fairbottom Street, Oldham, OL1 3SW | 0161 624 2829
