GANTRY Youth certainly know how to get an audience buzzing. The group, aged six years upward, has a joie-de-vivre that is rarely matched in pantomime.
Congratulations to director Neil Gibbs for inspiring such enthusiasm, and giving us a laugh-a-minute show.
The baddie, Abanazar, entices Aladdin into a cave from which he escapes with the aid of a genie and a flying carpet.
George Hoey (Abanazar)) has tremendous stage presence, with never a gesture, expression, or eye movement out of place.
Aladdin (Alannah Knowles) and the delightfully miniscule So-shi (Emily Singleton) sing beautifully, whilst a brave Alex Downer, taking the role of Widow Twankey with gusto, keeps the audience in stitches.
The production is chock-a-block with cameo parts: Sam Phillips is a stylish and funny Slave-of-the-Ring and a confident duo, Cheap (Ruth McCullen) and Cheerful (Bryony Robins) hold the audience with a song about bumble bee tuna. Excellent whole company numbers complement this vivacious panto. Unmissable.
Barbara Goodwin.
Aladdin Gantry Youth Theatre Solent University, Southampton
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