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<\/a>The gorgeous set! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
If you\u2019re not familiar with what a \u201cpanto\u201d is, you can read the definition in the second paragraph of my recent preview of these pantos, right here: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/upcomingtheatre-lythgoe-family-panto-previews<\/a>. I\u2019m so glad I had already gotten a peek at what goes into these productions, which I share with you in that article, as well.<\/p>\n Now that I\u2019ve seen several versions of this wonderful form of holiday theatre, I appreciate Kris Lythgoe\u2019s clever writing even more than I already did. He keeps the story familiar to us, while paring it down somewhat and adding amusing new characters, (as in the case of Aladdin\u2019s mother in this one,) and he chooses fun and appropriate popular songs, and gives us so many witty bon mots that adults<\/em> are as charmed as the children<\/em> in the audience! It\u2019s true family entertainment!<\/p>\n The colorful entrance to the Laguna Playhouse. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Now let\u00a0me tell you about\u00a0Aladdin and His Winter Wish<\/em> in particular. Even though I had seen this show before, it all seemed fresh at this new-to-me venue in Laguna Beach. The entire cast gives it their all, and between the excellent writing, songs with which we can all at least hum\u00a0along, exciting dancing, and colorful sets by Ian Wilson, it\u2019s a pure joy. Even the gooniest little bits work.<\/p>\n And the use of known<\/em> music (as opposed to original songs,) seems especially effective in this one. The opening number of Oscar-and-Grammy-winning Jai Ho<\/em>, (from Slumdog Millionaire<\/em>,) starts the proceedings off with a bang, and the action never lets up. My two favorite numbers, Bruno Mars\u2019 Treasure<\/em> and Coldplay\u2019s Vida la Vida<\/em>, (often referred to as When I Ruled the World<\/em>,) come at the top of the second act, so the show is very easy to get right back into after intermission, which is not always the case in theatre.<\/p>\n Barry Pearl and Josh Adamson. Photo by Cathy Cunningham.<\/p><\/div>\n I must laud young Jason Gotay, as Aladdin, for giving us a memorable rendition of the old Eddy Arnold standard, You Don\u2019t Know Me<\/em>. He has a beautiful voice, and really sells the song, to young and old alike. (But of course<\/em> Jason is fabulous\u2014he\u2019s a fellow Brooklynite!!!)<\/p>\n My favorite performer is Josh Adamson, as Aladdin\u2019s arch-nemesis, an evil magician who\u2019s trying to marry the princess. I\u2019ve seen Josh in two previous pantos, so I was already aware of how funny and charismatic he is, (and cute, too!,) but I didn\u2019t realize just what a talented singer<\/em> he is! I don\u2019t know how that fact eluded me before, but it was quite apparent in this show.<\/p>\n Jay Donnell as the Genie. Photo by Cathy Cunningham.<\/p><\/div>\n Josh plays the villain<\/em>, who all the kids are happy to boo, but they cheer<\/em> even louder for Jay Donnell as the Genie! And he\u2019s perfect<\/em> in that part; his performance is joyful and animated and funny without overdoing it. He\u2019s such a cheerful, upbeat person in real life that this role seems to be an extension of his human<\/em> self. The audience just latches on to his natural happiness.<\/p>\n Jason Graae, as Aladdin\u2019s mom, is also excellent. The role was originally played by my kooky pal Bruce Vilanche, when this panto was in Pasadena a few years ago, and even though Jason also performs the part with a lot of fun camp, he brings the character to life in a very different, perhaps more polished\u00a0way, of which I\u2019m really a fan. And his \u201cflirting\u201d with the men in the audience is hilarious!<\/p>\n Jason Gotay and Kira Kosarin. Photo by Cathy Cunningham.<\/p><\/div>\n I have a feeling that many of the little girls in the audience were there to see Nickelodeon star Kira Kosarin as Jasmine. Kira is more of an actress than a singer, so I give her a lot of credit for her efforts. And she seems sweet and possesses one of the highest kicks I\u2019ve ever seen! I think her leg gets totally parallel to her body! And she\u2019s a tall drink of water, so that\u2019s even more<\/em> of an accomplishment.<\/p>\n Barry Pearl and Jason Earles, (yes, there are three<\/em>\u00a0“Jasons” in this one<\/em> show!,) round-out the cast nicely, along with a troupe of all-ages dancers, who are all lovely. But I have to give an extra shout-out to my favorite young<\/em> dancer, Emily Madden. She has a sparkle that I hope she never loses.<\/p>\n All the “Jason”s and a “Jay!” (L-R) Jay Donnell, Jason Gotay, Jason Graae, and Jason Earles. Photo by Cathy Cunningham, as is the big one at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of special performers, Musical Director Keith Harrison plays all the music himself!!! That is truly amazing to witness. (I\u2019m glad they keep him highlighted on the side of the stage during the show so you can see him work for yourselves.)<\/p>\n Since this was my first visit to the Laguna Playhouse, (but it will definitely not be my last<\/em>!,) I also have to laud this charming\u00a0little theatre. I absolutely loved it! The experience made me hark back to seeing summer stock shows all around the east coast with my parents when I was a youngster. There don\u2019t appear to be any bad seats there, and the vibrant scenery of this show seemed to come a tad more alive on this perfect-size stage.<\/p>\n And I must add that those were two of the most appreciative audiences I think I\u2019ve ever seen! (Yes, I did<\/em> see it twice. Well, sort-of. Friday night traffic from LA made us a bit late for opening night, so my friends and I went back for the matinee the next day. And guess what? I could still see it again<\/em>!)<\/p>\n Benjie and Alexa writing their letters to Santa. I hope they put in a good word for me! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n There were some special pre-show activities for the kids on opening night, (like crafts and writing Letters To Santa, which my special helpers, Benjie and Alexa, both did,) and I noticed some different ones the next day, so I have a feeling they\u2019re available for all performances.<\/p>\n You have until New Year\u2019s Eve day to see this show, so even if you don\u2019t live in the Laguna Beach area, it will be a wonderful day trip for your child\u2019s Christmas vacation. And it\u2019s just as fun if you\u2019re a grown-up without<\/em> kids\u2014you can make it a fabulous adventure for yourself in this beautiful beach town. And maybe do as I<\/em> did\u2014stay down there for the night, and see the panto twice<\/em>!<\/p>\n Aladdin and His Winter Wish<\/em>\u00a0running through December 31, 2017<\/strong> ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH Aladdin and His Winter Wish was actually the very first Lythgoe Family Panto that I ever saw, when it was at the Pasadena Playhouse a few years ago. So I\u2019m thrilled for Laguna Beach audiences to have that opportunity this holiday season. If you\u2019re not familiar with what a \u201cpanto\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Laguna Playhouse 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach www.lagunaplayhouse.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"