What a cracking Pantomime this is. I have been going to pantomimes since I was four, and over the last 40-odd years I have seen ones that have been good, bad and indifferent. There have also been some that I would class as excellent and Aladdin by the LIDOS Company, currently being performed at the Carriageworks Theatre, has to fall into this latter category. Here we have a group of highly talented amateur performers giving 100% in their singing, acting and choreography. Without doubt the star of the performance for me had to be Bryan Craven in the role of Widow Twankey. Bryan typifies what a pantomime dame should be. His rapport with the audience was brilliant, particularly some of the ad-libs, and he had me in stitches most of the evening. Early on in the show he picked up on a gentleman called Dave in the audience and throughout the rest of the evening made semi-amorous advances towards him, all in good fun, I hasten to add. Also, his outrageous costumes were a joy to behold. He was extremely well supported by Anna Heathcote in the title role of Aladdin, who made a great principal boy, and Claire Hoyland as the princess, both of whom had excellent voices, particularly in the number, I can show you the world. Humour was also the forte of Richard Koslowsky in the role of Wishee Washee and Shirley Hoyland as the empress. Despite recently breaking her ankle, Shirley performed from a wheelchair (suitably decorated to look like a Chinese rickshaw) but her one-liners and facial expressions more than made up for her lack of physical movement on the stage. Two others who provided humour (and villainy) were Emily Lindley as the Slave of the Ring, and Rob Smith as Abanazar. I was particularly impressed by Rob’s camp version of Don’t Stop Me Now. The show was extremely well directed and choreographed by Kazia Gamble whilst Danny Gamble was the musical director. LIDOS, originally formed by insurance workers back has been going strong for over 30 years and looks well set to continue for another 30 years. Aladdin runs until Saturday 20 January 2007. | 
