Reviews 2006
Reviews 2006
✭✭✭✩✩
by David Finley, directed by Ted Dykstra
Ross Petty Productions, Elgin Theatre, Toronto
December 6-24, 2006
Aladdin, the panto last seen in Toronto in 2004, returns as part of a cross-Canada tour. Although it takes product placement on stage to a depressing new level, this is still one of few holiday shows that children may actually enjoy.
Re-imagined as a poor Down Easter sk8er-boi, Aladdin (Jamie McKnight) falls into the clutches of the evil wizard Abanazeer (Ross Petty), who uses him to retrieve a magic lamp and its all-powerful resident genie (ex-wrestler Bret “Hitman” Hart). McKnight is hilarious in making our hero an endearing but utterly clueless klutz and in mimicking the tics of teen singing idols. Petty’s performance is so far over the top it’s practically in orbit. Hart, now much more at ease on stage, is a benign presence. These three are aided by a strong supporting cast including Jennifer Dale as a sexy Sheherazade and Derek McGrath as Aladdin’s man-hungry mother Jenny Bender.
As usual the score is potpourri of tunes, here ranging from Irving Berlin to the Barenaked Ladies. As in 2004 the two highlights are Aladdin’s spectacular manoeuvres on a flying skateboard to the sounds of Steppenwolf and the morphing of the love duet between Aladdin and Princess Jacuzzi (the bubbly Rhoslynne Bugay) into a soppy music video. It all adds up to inspired silliness for adults and lots of fun for kids.
©Christopher Hoile
Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2006-12-14.
Photo: Ross Petty and Jamie McKnight. ©2006 Bruce Zinger.
2006-12-14
Aladdin: The Magical Family Musical