Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513442
CULTURE 12 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 DECEMBER 2023 FOLLOWING the success of last year's panto at Teatru Astra in Gozo, this festive season, Panto is back with Aladdin: The Rock n' Roll Panto by FM Theatre Productions. Boasting an exceptional ensemble of Actor-Musicians, Aladdin: The Rock n' Roll Panto is led by seasoned panto legend Edward Mercieca in the role of Dame Widow Twankey on bass guitar. Seamlessly weaving panto per- sonas with their musical prowess, Mercieca is joined by Sandie von Brockdorff in the role of the prin- cipal boy, Aladdin, along with the stellar Gianni Selvaggi, Tina Riz- zo, Sean Borg, Cathy Lawlor, Peter Farrugia, Dan Ganado, and Hannah Attard. Promising to delight adults and children alike, the classic tale is in- fused with the humour and charm that one would expect of a Christ- mas Pantomime together with the electric excitement of a rock and roll concert. In a chance encounter, Dame Wid- ow Twankey's son, Aladdin meets princess Trikki Trakki and the pair instantly fall in love. However, the star-crossed lovers can never be to- gether as the princess must marry a prince of class and breeding, a man of the Emperor's choosing. Aladdin discovers a magic lamp that has held a powerful genie captive who turns Aladdin into a prince, an eligible suitor for the princess. But plans go awry when the mystical lamp falls into the hands of panto baddie Aba- zaner. With contemporary jokes and Maltese references woven into the script by Peter Rowe, Aladdin's whimsical journey is not scarce of the traditional panto elements and characteristics that will have audi- ences cheering and chanting classic call-backs at the top of their lungs. Directed by Chris Gatt, the unex- pected twists and turns that the protagonists find themselves in are nothing short of typical panto ludi- cracy that keeps audiences laughing uncontrollably scene after scene. The actor-musicians, under the Musical Direction of Cathy Lawlor, will be performing some of the most iconic tunes from the likes of music legends such as Queen, Dolly Par- ton, Guns n' Roses, Madonna and Aretha Franklin just to name a few. Happening this December from th 26th till the 30th, Aladdin: The Rock n' Roll Panto is an FM Theatre Pro- duction in collaboration with Teat- ru Astra and is supported by MeDi- rect, The Ministry of Gozo and The Cultural Heritage Directorate. Aladdin: The Rock n' Roll Panto at Teatru Tina Rizzo as Princess Trikki Trakki Sean Borg plays the Emperor Cathy Lawlor as the Genie