ALADDIN

First commissioned by and performed at
Watford Palace Theatre

SYNOPSIS

A traditional panto with a modern contemporary script.

The Emperor is giving notice of his desire for a rich suitor for his daughter. Aladdin tries his luck but is rejected out of hand due to his insufficient means. He then by a stroke of luck gets to see the Princess and they have a mutual ‘fall in love moment’. Aladdin realises he must find a way to get rich and marry her.

Unfortunately he is caught looking at the Princess by the Emperor and placed under arrest. Ping and Pong attempt to do this but Aladdin escapes. Abanazar has entered unseen and quietly as well mannered and polite trader. He speaks to the Emperor of his daughter and of his knowledge of a man with such wealth as he desires to marry her.

The spirit of the Ring reminds him that Aladdin is the boy he is looking for in his quest to find the magic lamp and unlock its powers and wealth - only a boy pure of heart can enter the cave where the lamp resides. Abanazar is revealed as being evil and powerful.

We meet Widow Twankey on her home patch and more is revealed about her and her predicaments ...poor..lazy son...her desire for man...etc. Emperor enters with his laundry to be done. He obviously doesn’t have the financial means many think he has. Widow Twankey has desires for him but he is not interested.

Wishee and Aladdin enter with Ping and Pong in hot pursuit. They hide in the washing machines. (washer / driers, the latest thing) Ping and Pong are outfoxed for now. Abanazar enters pretending to be Widow Twankey ’s long lost brother in law. She is taken in and he explains how he needs the help of Aladdin to get the lamp and with the promise of riches Widow Twankey pulls him from the washing machine to meet his nice uncle. Aladdin sees the idea of instant riches and agrees to help....They exit heading for the cave that holds the lamp. Abanazar and Aladdin make their way to the cave. Abanazar gives Aladdin his magical ring. ‘You can have any ring you want in the cave...Want that one! (a la little Britain). He gives up just for quiet life and because he knows it is small fry compared to the power of the lamp.

Aladdin is in the cave surrounded and spellbound by the caves vast riches. Abanazar’s patience snaps when Aladdin refuses to hand him the lamp before climbing out of the cave. He casts a spell trapping Aladdin inside the cave. Aladdin is frustrated by being amongst all this wealth and trapped...he rubs the lamp and the genie of the lamp ‘appears’ to grant him three wishes. The Genie conjours up a magic carpet to fly them out of the cave.

Aladdin is now obscenely rich as is his mother and to a lesser extent even Wishee Washee looks like he has had a small share. He present tokens of his vast wealth to the Emperor. Ping and Pong are suspicious about how he gained all this sudden wealth. Emperor is also not sure and so adds the condition that he must build a palace in a day to prove his wealth and gain his daughter’s hand. He promises the Princess he will succeed.

Aladdin is showing off his palace to the Emperor and the Princess. Abanazar enters in disguise selling ‘new lamps for old ’ Princess has the old lamp and just as she agrees to swap. Wishee Washee enters and is suspicions that something is not right, but despite this the swap goes ahead. Immediately Abanazar reveals his evil self and the palace comes apart and flies out.

Emperor is distraught and begs Aladdin to rescue his daughter. He offers his two best men to help. Unfortunately Ping and Pong are as ‘best’ as it gets. Luckily he remembers the ring and tries it conjuring up the Spirit of the Ring who proves to be more helpful. She can take them to the palace.

Using a trojan camel to get inside, they get the lamp back and conjour up the Genie. Aladdin wishes Abanazar into the lamp to be trapped forever. Genie is now free! He frees Princess. One wish left his last one and with that he conjours them palace and all back home.

A copy of the script is available on request.