I love a good Pantomime and when Eliza’s Nursery School announced they were taking the children to see Aladdin at Bournemouth Pavilion hubby and I kindly volunteered our help.
The Pantomine in Bournemouth is written and directed by our local CBeebies star Chris Jarvis, who always puts on a spectacular show and this year was better than ever!
When my eldest daughter Abbey heard Scott Maslen (Eastenders Jack Branning) she invited herself along too.
The show was opened by Scott playing the dastardly Abanazar and he soon had the audience booing and hissing well (although their may have been some wolf whistles from some of the ladies). I have to say it is obvious he is relishing the role and he camps it up brilliantly!
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| Picture credit Dancing Ledge & Hattie Miles |
Next up was Widow Twanky played by Bobby Crush. I have to admit I had not heard of him before, but he was brilliant and was given the opportunity to tinkle the ivories a few times throughout the performance.
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| Picture Credit Bournemouth Echo |
Chris Jarvis has taken the role of Wishee Washy and had the children wriggling in their seats and shouting “Squishy Squashy” everytime he appeared on stage. Eliza was very excited that Stuffy (from Show Me Show Me) made an appearance at one point.
There was plenty of slapstick comedy throughout the performance, with the introduction of PC Ping. The sets were bright, colourful and fun and Widow Twanky developed a nasty sneezing habit when faced with a good looking man, to which we had to shout “Use a hanky, Twankey!” and the local references came through thick and fast!
The pantomime also starred Aladdin (Richard Vincent), Jasmine (Jamie Lee Mason), The Genie of the Ring and a host of local performers young and old who danced and sang their hearts out to a variety of music including Queen, Icona Pop (I Love It) and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky.
Lasting about 45 minutes each half, there was not a boring moment. The first half flew past and we all booed and hissed along with Abanazar’s plan to attempt world domination. A magic carpet ride was brought to life thanks to a cartoon motion picture behind in the second half and of course good triumphed over evil in the end!
If you get the chance to go and see Aladdin at the Pavilion, I highly recommend it as it is great fun for all ages – Eliza sat transfixed throughout!
We were also lucky enough to meet two of the stars after the performance, who I can confirm as the nicest men in showbiz as they made the effort to speak to us for some time, even though I am sure they had better places to be!
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| Eliza meets “Show Me, Show Me Chris” |
Abbey may have been extremely a little excited to meet Scott Maslen!
Thank you Chris Jarvis – you have done it again. Can’t wait to see what you do next year!
can you believe, I’ve never been to a panto! looks fun 🙂 x
So much fun! It’s great having kids, just so we can enjoy it all again.
I love a good Panto – we go every year with the extended family. Oh no we don’t!
He’s behind yoooo! Oh no he isn’t! OH YES HE IS! Love pantos and love how happy you look in these photos – Merry Crimbo lovely lady xxx
sounds great! we didn’t make it to a panto yet this year, but i guess there is still time maybe we can fit it in!
Wow, sounds brilliant! We saw a pant this year of the first time in ages. It was really goo too.
That looks brilliant – we love the panto x x