Anna Burnside, with contributions by Isobel Madonia and Tess Syed-Tollan, review PACE Theatre’s latest panto.
Welcome to North Kilttown where tartan-clad matriarch Pattie McBottie runs a struggling laundry. One son, Wipey McBottie, washes the windows. The other, Aladdin, cuts about having adventures and chatting up princesses.
Wicked queen Wilma the Wonky wants to tax the McBotties out of existence and marry her daughter off to a prince. Rosie, a feisty sort of royal, has other ideas.
Andy McGregor’s take on the familiar story is part fairytale/part social commentary, touching on class struggle, corruption, family loyalty and transformation in between the pratfalls, fart gags and Gen Alpha catchphrases.
Dame Chris Alexander and his comic partner Alan Orr do much of the comedic heavy lifting. Orr tells the toe-curling gags while Alexander flirts with the men in the audience. They are masters of audience participation. And the Macarena.
Lauren Ellis-Steele’s Wilma the Wonky makes the most of her magnificent and expressive voice. Her villainous laugh is spot on and quite frankly terrifying. The chorus, made up of children and young people from PACE, hold their own against the professional principals. Their voices harmonise effortlessly as they fill the stage with villagers, soldiers and evil cave sprites.
Those who don’t chronically scroll TikTok might struggle with “what the sigma” and some of the more niche references. But these are well diluted with jobbies, digs at Elon Musk, sarky references to the replacement of a magic carpet with a picnic rug, St Mirren jokes and jibes about Greenock.
This Aladdin is a high-energy celebration of the community spirit with cheeky comedy, impressive vocals and bright costumes. Nothing says Christmas in Paisley like Chris Alexander in tartan bloomers.
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PACE Theatre Company’s production of Aladdin performs at the Paisley Arts Centre until January 5, 2025. For tickets, go to the box office website.
Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic.
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