Joe McElderry, Lisa Riley and Doreen Tipton shine at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre pantomime Aladdin - review
On-stage frolics, sing-a-long music and laugh-out-loud comedy for all the family.
Like Aladdin, the producers of Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre panto will have made three wishes for their much-anticipated show.
And thankfully, to the obvious delight of the audience, the genie has dished out plenty of every single one.
So many highlights to remember, so many happy faces and that delivered feeling, that Christmas is finally here.
The cast boasts some big names, from Joe McElderry as Aladdin, Lisa Riley as the Slave of the Ring and Ben Faulks as the Chief of Peking Police.
But for me the star of the show was the internet sensation Doreen Tipton, who was wheeled out on stage as the Lazy Empress of China.
She tells the audience she had to apply for three jobs to keep her Jobseekers Allowance – yet somehow she lands the Empress role, more to her annoyance if anything.
Sick of waving to the crowds from her throne she visits New Cross to get a 'fake wrist' to avoid the 'painful' routine.
Always full of dry gags, all most all relating to the Black Country, she keeps the audience laughing loud.
Those too young to get her aren't disappointed either. Adam C Booth plays Aladdin's brother Wishee Washee, a jumpy character full of slapstick comedy.
He shouts 'hello gang', with the audience hailing back 'hello washee' every time he comes on stage, before causing mischief to the plot.
But the mayhem peaks when Washee, the Chief of Peking Police, the Slave of the Ring and Widow Twankey, played by Ian Adams join together for a sing.
The routine sees each one take turn to dance and sing, before all come together in a round of stage carnage met with rapturous laughter and then applause.
Let's not also forget the brilliant singing of the beautiful Lucy Kay, who plays the Princess, and magician Stefan Pejic, who has the evil Abanazar down to a tee.
What a show. I had not been to the pantomime since I was 12. Why had I not returned sooner?
Aladdin runs at the Wolverhampton Grand until January 22.
By Alex Ross
