REVIEW: Aladdin written and directed by Mark Cox at The Brunton, Musselburgh, until December 31
Mark Cox plays miserable pensioner Tam Mullen in the popular BBC sitcom Still Game.
But there is nothing miserly about his script or direction in this entertaining production of Aladdin.
It engages from first to last and, when we visited, the cast wrung every last ounce of energy from the audience.
They sang, booed and encouraged the performers throughout and the packed auditorium loved it.
Locally-based punchlines in the typical story of Aladdin who gets into bother and ends up smiling went down particularly well in the script with Wallyford and Prestonpans featuring with special mentions.
The writer also managed to slip in references to top TV shows including Bake Off.
Facebook and selfies also received a mention along with well-known sandwich outlets and supermarkets.
Audience participation was strong from first to last and special shout outs were well received so, if you are attending, make sure to contact the production team and get a mention.
Pantomime is an art and it takes great stamina over a long run and the cast here worked hard.
Richard Conlon is a scary Abanazar and possesses a wicked laugh while Keith McLeish proved perfectly cast as whacky Widow Twankey. Her popularity rose to a climax during a sweet pour out which certainly grabbed the attention.
Her bubbly son Aladdin, Martin Murphy, helped keep this production moving at a fast pace throughout.
Shonagh Price, who is currently in the third series of Eve, playing Abe and Lilly’s mum on CBBC, injected real energy into her roles as Rhona and Morag and Eilidh Weir (Princess Jasmine), excited to be in her first professional show since graduating, has a good voice which dovetailed well with Aladdin.
Julie Coombe (Rory and Pierre) and Sean Hay (Emperor Malky and The Genie) both added to the spectacle while Stephanie MacAulay’s choreography, and the youthful chorus, worked hard along with the stage and lighting crew to provide a show which was greeted by warm applause and much approval.
Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.
