|
The story of
Aladdin originates from the book Arabian Nights. It tells the story of
Schehrazade's misfortune at being the daughter of an official at the court
of king Shahriyar. Aladdin was the first pantomime produced in England and
with its origins, you may be forgiven for wondering why the setting is in
China. Quite simply, when first staged at the end of the eighteenth
century, the people in Britain were completely fascinated by all things
oriental, from the willow pattern and Chinese porcelain to drinking China
tea and so the producers made the transformation.
Swansea
Vicki recreated her role as
Genie of the Ring at Swansea Grand Theatre in 1999 for E and B
Productions. Joining forces were actor and presenter Tim Vincent as
Aladdin, Eastender’s Andrew Lynford as Wishee Washee and Hi de Hi’s Barry
Howard as Widow Twankey with Ria Jones, Kevin Johns, The Simmons Brothers
and Phil Corbett also starring. The Swansea City Football Club mascot
Cyril the Swan made numerous manic dashes from one side of the stage to
the other for no apparent reason but received rapturous applause for his
efforts none-the-less. For the final performance the audience were treated
to an additional member of cast in the form of a mini genie played by
Vicki’s very talented daughter, then just ten years old. Although
diminutive in stature she certainly had the upper hand when it came to
power over her adversaries.
Plymouth
Vicki joined an impressive
cast list for her portrayal of the genie in the 1994/ 95 Qdos production
in Plymouth, with Danny La Rue, Gerald Harper, Karl Howman, Allan Stewart
and Dawson Chance all co starring.
Cardiff
In 1991 Vicki starred as the
Genie of the Ring at the New Theatre, Cardiff. Her counterpart as villain
Abanazaar was played by the legendary welsh actor Victor Spinetti.This
show broke all box office records.
Bedworth
Until 2002,
Vicki's role in Aladdin had been that of Genie of the Ring but last Christmas
saw her in the title role as Aladdin, giving her a rare opportunity to
play Principal Boy. Her co-star for the show was Melvyn Hayes as Widow
Twankey. Written and produced by Christopher Lillicrap, Jeanette Ranger
and The Proper Pantomime Co. The show was warmly received by
audiences and critics alike.
Reviews
 Our
eye-catching hero, Aladdin is played with enthusiasm by Vicki Michelle.
Her thigh slapping routines and song and dance scene with the young
dancers, are a great tonic for the younger members of the audience.
TV
stalwarts Vicki Michelle, in the title role and Melvyn Hayes are seasoned
pros who bring heaps of know-how to a venue crying out for years to
compete against city rivals on the pantomime circuit. |
