Aladdin

The traditional tale of Aladdin and his lamp is one of the most popular themes for pantomime and children’s plays in the world, performed under a variety of titles over the years.

The original tale

Although the Middle Eastern folk tale of Aladdin is one of the best known tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (also known as The Arabian Nights), it was not part of the original Arabic text, but is an 18th century addition to his French translation of the book by the Frenchman Antoine Galland, based on a story he had been told by a Syrian storyteller from Aleppo.

For a summary overview on the origins of this tale, see for example the entry on Aladdin in Wikipedia[1].

Stage adaptations

The tale has been a popular subject for pantomime for over 200 years. For example one of the earliest dramatisations in England was done by John O'Keefe for the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, in 1788.

There have also been a number of straight plays and musicals based on the tale, for instance Adam Oehlenschläger's verse drama Aladdin (1805), The New Aladdin, an Edwardian musical comedy (1906) and a musical comedy version with a book by S.J. Perelman and music and lyrics by Cole Porter (1958-9), and various versions of "Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular", a musical stage production that opened in Disney California Adventure in January 2003.

A number of films and TV versions (both live action and animated), have also been made of the story, the best known today perhaps being the Disney animated version of 1992.

For more see the entry on Aladdin in Wikipedia[2].

Performance history in South Africa

In South Africa many versions of the Aladdin story have been done.

Among them:

1861: Produced as Aladdin, or The Wonderful Lamp

1919: Produced as Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp, with Thomas Pauncefort and Dan Thomas, at His Majesty's Theatre in Johannesburg.

1945: Produced as Aladdin by Philip D. Levard for African Consolidated Theatres in the Empire Theatre and at the Alhambra Theatre in 1945, featuring Ivy Tresmand, Harry Hambleton and Neil McKay);

1978: Produced as Aladdin, written and produced by John Moss for NAPAC at the Alhambra Theatre Durban from 7 December 1978;

1984: Produced as ** , directed by Maralin Vanrenen who co-wrote the script with Ian Ferguson in 1984, with what they called “a Cape flavour” with Dale Cutts, Charles Comyn, Adrienne Pearce, Peter Krummeck, Jennifer Ferguson, Peter Butler, Mike Chase and others at the Baxter Theatre, 1984. Marilyn Taylor’s musical band;

1986: Produced by Joyce Levinsohn and Jill Gerard at the Intimate Theatre in 1986;

1988: Produced by Janice Honeyman (who wrote and directed the text) for PACT in 1988. Designed by Frances Michaletos. Musical director: Didi Kriel. Choreographer: Jennie Reznek. Lighting designed by Nic Michaletos. Ass. director: Andre Odendaal. Cast: Genie of the Lamp: Robert Finlayson Aladdin: Jenny de Lenta Widow Twankey: Michael Richard Wishee-Washee: Bruce Alexander Jerry Joko: Jeremy Taylor Chop Suzy Charmaine: Lisa Bobbert Princess Lotus Blossom: Dorrit Rothschild Emperor Wun Num Bum: John Lesley Empress Wun Tun Tum: Kate Edwards Abanazar: Neville Thomas So-Hi: Christine Weir So-Lo: Melinda Ferguson So-Slo: Lisa Melman Wight-Wun: Zane Meas Fun-Wun: Rodney-Mark Venner So-Wot: Shireen Hollier Wot-Not: Lauren Sherwood Wong-Wun: Steven Breger So-Shi: Bev Elgie Yung-Wun: Lulu Tshoeula Hi-Flung: Glenn Swart Lo-Slung: Andre Odendaal Slave of the Ring: Nomsa Nene

1994: Produced as Aladdin (in Sjiena), Nerina Ferreira's version in Afrikaans of the text by Janice Honeyman was presented by TRUK Toneel at the State Theatre, Pretoria, from 30 September to 5 November under the direction of James Borthwick, starring, among others, A.J. van der Merwe, Ilse Fourie-Mazzone, Vanessa Pike and Siyabonga Twala.

Produced as A Lad ‘n’ a LampAgain in *****. Janice Honeyman’s version A Lad ‘n’ a Lamp.

Produced as Another pantomime version by De Wet Laubscher in ****.**

Sources

Baxter pamphlet

Programme of the production in 1988 produced by PACT.

Aladdin (in Sjiena) poster and programme (PACT 1994).

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