With flying carpets, outrageous outfits, a magical lamp, cheesy jokes and musical numbers aplenty, Eden Court’s pantomime, Aladdin, has all the makings of a fabulous festive night out, writes Susan Welsh
As the old song goes, there is nothing like a dame – especially when it’s panto dame Widow Twankee, the larger-than-life mum who takes centre stage in the family panto Aladdin, which opens at Eden Court next Tuesday.
Slipping into the role, glam dresses and pink Doc Martens, once more is Pitlochry-based actor Greg Powrie, who says he’ll be leaving the audience in no doubt that Widow Twankee is really a man dressed as a woman.
“Someone told me once, and I think it might have been Jimmy Logan, that the way to play a dame is to think of it like it’s your wife who is the dame, but she’s fallen ill and you have to step up to the mark, wear her frocks and apply make-up without really knowing how to do it,” said Greg.
If he wanted to make the dame very feminine and sweet, he could always ask his wife, glamorous actress Deirdre Davis who plays Eileen in long-running Scottish soap River City, for fashion and beauty advice.
“Deirdre’s make-up is always understated and elegant, so I might get tips from her, then do the opposite thing,” laughed Greg.
“I don’t know what she’ll say about my outfits, either, as I’ve seven frocks to wear, each with a Chinese theme and understated as always.
“These range from a restaurant-style dress complete with wok, to one that looks like a washing machine, while another looks like a pagoda, and there’s one based on a Ming vase, all teamed with my must-have pink boots. It’s not until I put on the boots that I really feel the part,” said Greg.
“Although it is hard work, panto is also a lot of fun and a great chance as a performer to let your hair down a bit and have a good time. This will be my third year in the Highland capital and I feel like I am coming to understand the Inverness audience and their humour, and I really feel at home at Eden Court.”
Aladdin is being presented by Imagine Theatre, and Steve Boden, managing director of the company, said: “Many people know the Disney version of the story of Aladdin, but the pantomime is quite different. In the pantomime, Aladdin is still a poor boy who dreams of becoming rich and marrying the beautiful Princess and he finds a magical lamp with a genie who can grant him three wishes.
“However, the rest of the story and characters are quite different. No pantomime would be complete without a Dame and, in Aladdin, that Dame is the indomitable Widow Twankey, Aladdin’s mother, who runs the laundry along with her other son, the hapless Wishee Washee. I won’t give too much more away, but I can promise a fabulous flying carpet.”
Greg, who has had a busy year since last treading the boards at Eden Court, said: “Aladdin is one of the better pantos, as it’s story driven and it’s a good story with great songs. The opening number is from Sister Act the musical and there’s good songs throughout, including an Olly Murs
number.
“There will also be plenty of local references and a bit of Doric, too, as Ross Allan, who plays my sidekick Wishee Washee, and David Rankine, who plays Aladdin, are both from Elgin. Steve Wren is directing; Roy McQueen is doing the choreography, and Will Marshall is looking after the music, so we’ve got the dream team.”
The pantomime will feature three eight-strong teams of talented local youngsters who will perform on different nights, and has a 14-strong cast which also includes Derek McGhie as Abanazar, Connor McAllister as the Genie of the Lamp, Claire Darcy as the Spirit of the Ring, Dani Heron as the Princess, and Rebecca Maltman as So-Shi.
David Rankine said: “I am so delighted to be appearing in my first panto at Eden Court. This won’t be my first Aladdin, but last time I was in it I was the Genie, so I am delighted to be playing the title role this year. I have appeared in pantomime before, as Prince Charming in Cinderella, but Aladdin is going to be a lot different to that. He is a lively, fun, cheeky chap who gets into lots of mischief. I am especially looking forward to having a go on the flying carpet.”
Ross Allan played Gob in last year’s production of Sleeping Beauty and became something of a scene stealer, getting a lot of laughs for his portrayal of the villainous but dim lad. This time, he’ll play it for laughs once more as he takes on the comic role of the loveable Wishee Washee.
Greg, who turned 50 this year, had a busy summer working with Pitlochry Festival Theatre and, most recently, appeared in the stage version of Still Game Live, says he can’t wait for rehearsals to finish and for the audience to take their seats.
“Pantos are organic, without question, and the element we’re missing from rehearsals is the audience, as audiences are different every time, which means we can change things. Once again this year, we’ll be looking for nominations in advance from those attending who would like to see the man in their life asked on stage. I won’t say what’s going to happen to them, but they’ll need to have a good sense of humour.”
While for the audience panto is strictly just for the festive season, for those working with Imagine Theatre it’s a year-round job.
MD Steve Boden said: “Plans for panto begin more than a year in advance of the first performance when we discuss suitable titles and run dates. We then think about the magical ‘wow’ factors that we want to include in the show, along with any particular cast members. The show is then written, scenery and costumes assembled and actors, musicians and technical staff recruited. There is never a quiet month for a panto company.”
The start of autumn is when the wardrobe department, Dawn and Karen, get to work preparing the costumes, not just for Imagine’s own shows, but also the hundreds of outfits they are hiring out to other companies as well. Karen worked her magic on 80 dame dresses being used on Imagine pantomimes this season, checking them over and making any necessary repairs.
“We have to check over all of our costumes before they go out. With the cast doing two shows a day for weeks at a time, they pick up the odd knock, particularly the dames’ dresses, as they are so large and elaborate, so we want to make sure they are in top condition before they appear on stage,” said Karen, who was busy adding additional glitter to a vase-style dress for Widow Twankee.
There’s also panto sets to be built and a host of technical equipment to be organised, all of which adds that extra magic and sparkle to the show, which runs from Tuesday, December 2, until Sunday, January 4.
Contact: Eden Court box office on 01463 234234 or visit the website www.eden-court.co.uk