Cumbernauld Theatre Four stars “Don't go messing with cosmos,” says the operator of a celestial helpline to big bad Abanazer in Tony Cownie's pocket-sized take on this most magical of pantomime favourites, “or the cosmos will mess with you.” This is something Abanazer eventually learns to his cost as he manipulates peasant boy Aladdin into leading him to the magic lamp and the genie that will sate his greed. Lovestruck Aladdin, meanwhile, has his sights set on the beautiful Princess Jasmine, even if it means trampolining his way over the palace walls with his best pal Karif to get her. A bored king is the initial impetus for the yarn to unravel, as his loyal subjects scramble around in desperation to find one more story to keep him interested. Only when the oldest and wisest member of the tribe lays bare a tale closer to his heart than he lets on does the gang leap into the dressing up box to act it out. As dramaturged by Ed Robson and Roderick Stewart, this makes the most of
An archive of arts writing by Neil Cooper. Effete No Obstacle.