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.

Performance history in South Africa

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

Among them:

1861: Aladdin, or The Wonderful Lamp

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

1945: Aladdin produced 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: Aladdin written and produced by John Moss for NAPAC at the Alhambra Theatre Durban from 7 December 1978;

1984: 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: by Joyce Levinsohn and Jill Gerard at the Intimate Theatre in 1986;

1988: 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: 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.

Again in *****. Janice Honeyman’s version A Lad ‘n’ a Lamp. 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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