The play starts with an evil magician Abanazar entering her
lair. Sound effects are heard of the stereotypical “dun dun dar” noise. It is a
large entrance with green lighting also signifying who the character may be,
she arrives on stage with a malicious laugh. She explains how she wants to rule
the universe and make everyone her slave, she uses the spirit of the ring to
help her find it. The spirit is a sort of genie that lives in Abanazar’s ring,
she enters with a bang and a mystical purple lighting her mood is a constant attitudal
state. This is the first sign of Abanazar having magic powers, she tells her that it
is no use going there by herself so, Abanazar must find a boy by the name of
Aladdin from Peking to help her retrieve it as he is mortal, honest and true,
this makes him eligible to enter the magic cave containing the lamp. Abanazar
hatches an evil plan involving finding the magic lamp and becoming the all most
powerful one. This starts the play off to a ‘wicked’ start as she proceeds to
Peking.
The City of Peking is a brightly lit place, there isn’t any
green or evilness to be seen. This shows a complete contrast to both scenes,
you now know that you are watching happy villagers doing a dance in an, all
happy, excitable place. Once the dance is over a strapping young lad is on with
great dominance to the stage, this character is Aladdin. He speaks with the
villagers to start moving the plot forward. He finds out that the princess is
coming through the market place and he wants to be there to see her, though
this is forbidden as no one is allowed to see her face. Aladdin’s mum is then
introduced with a sound of crashing plates as screaming as though there has
been a murder. This is the typical dame over reacting, she lightens the tension
with a few jokes and innuendos, and generally starts to break the 4th
wall with the audience.
Abanzar arrives in Peking and wants to find Aladdin. There
are contrasting scenes in which as Abanazar leaves Wishee Washee, an energetic young
boy, riding a scooter enters, really breaking the 4th wall this
time. He addresses all the boys and girls with laughter and happiness. This
shows a counter acting character which balances out the good and evil,
uplifting the audience and getting them gripped to both sides of the play.
Widow Twankey (the dame) comes on to some music that she
dances to, once she has finished Abanazar enters. Their conversation is full of
sarcasm from both parts and results in Abanazar finding out she has only gone
and bumped into Aladdin's mum. She asks to meet him with a cunning plan
developing in her mind. Abanazar greets Aladdin saying he looks just like his
father who has passed away, she says she is his father's sister and has riches beyond
belief. At first they don’t not believe her and nor do the audience, but
Aladdin and Twankey are too poor to let this opportunity pass by. They choose
to believe her false story and she goes away saying she will return to collect
Aladdin to go to the cave ‘of riches’.
Thrilled Aladdin goes away to meet his love, The Princess
Jasmine. She is a young lady who is always accompanied by her handmaidens, who
are at her beck and call though it seems she doesn’t necessarily want them
there fussing over her. Jasmine's father is the Emperor, he is very powerful and
likes everyone to know it and be reminded of it, they are also quite poor so, he
is forcing Jasmine in to a marriage, with a rich man, who she doesn’t want to
be married to. She then meets a boy called Aladdin, they both then instantly
fall in love, like in a fairy tale. They both get caught talking to one another
and as no one is meant to see Jasmine's face the Emperor summons someone to chop
Aladdin’s head off. However Wishee Washee cleverly helps Aladdin make a sneaky
escape.
After that Abanazar has a scene where she summons the spirit
of the ring for the second time to find out where the cavern is hidden. There’s
a riddle given by the spirit, which Abanazar deciphers quite quickly. She then
goes to find Aladdin.
Aladdin is trying to speak with the princess and gets a
chance to tell her that he is going to a secret cave containing lots of jewels
and when he gets them he will be able to marry her instead of the rich Prince Pekoe.
This conversation soon cuts out as the Emperor spots them again. This time he wasn’t
going to take no for an answer. Abanazar strides on to the stage yelling “stop”
and with a mystical sound effect freezes them all with her magic. She explains
that they must leave at once. Aladdin makes his final farewell to the princess
they both leave the stage then everyone unfreezes and turn to confusion as they
limply walk off stage.
In the laundry is Wishee Washee along Widow Twankey, they
both sing some upbeat songs and speak with each other and the washing is being
done at the same time, Wishee goes out the back to do some more washing.
Aladdin comes in and bids farewell to his mother and starts to leave for the
mountains, then they hear screaming, Aladdin goes to check it out and it turns
out Wishee has shrunk as he had fallen into the washing machine.
Abanazar is now on the search for the magic lamp. Both
Aladdin and herself are searching in darkness both confused as to where they
are actually going. Aladdin spots the cave and Abanazar uses a spell to open
the cave. She hurries Aladdin persuasively to get into the cave and bring her
the lamp. He then starts to figure out that something fishy is going on so once
he finds the lamp he refuses to give it to her. Extremely angry with this, Abanazar shuts the cave opening closed again and leaves him to die there.
Now very worried and upset Aladdin is left by himself locked
in the cave. He ponders for a while and then remembers that he had been given
the magic ring just before he went in to the cave. He rubs it and out pops the
spirit of the ring. She explains to him that she can’t help him but gives him a
poetic riddle for a clue. Smart Aladdin figures it out quite quickly, rubs the lamp
and then the genie appears, wearing funky clothing and a large bushy afro. The Genie
has infinite power and helps him to escape the cave and says that he can grant
any wishes for him. There is a singing and dancing number then it moves on to
the interval.
The beginning of act two is the princess skipping on to
stage with her hand maidens boasting about how she has not yet been caught being
outside of the palace gardens. SoShy, (one of the hand maidens) is very
worried because she would get in lots of trouble also, however princess doesn’t
seem to mind and makes a dash for the boating lake with the maidens when she
see the police officers approaching.
The police officers are a comedy duo and are meant to be
looking out for the princess. They both lose sight of her and one gets more
annoyed with the other. There are some jokes and slaps around the head before
the more sensible of the two officers blows her whistle for everyone to come running. They
Question widow Twankey but she cleverly wriggles herself out of punishment and
the police officers believe her and leave. Twankey tells all the villagers to
go and look for Aladdin. She was also on her way to leave until she hears the
Emperor speaking. Between then they are making jokes and innuendos, until he
has enough of her ridiculousness and leaves
.
Wishee enters with some shopping saying he has been looking
for Aladdin everywhere and hasn’t had any success with finding him. That’s when
Abanazar enters with her melodramatic acting. She lies to them both saying that
Aladdin fought with an animal and now he is dead, they all believe her until Aladdin appears from nowhere clutching the lamp. He then wishes for the genie to banish
Abanazar. The Genie then takes it upon himself to take her down to Essex.
After that everything is calm and peaceful in the city of
Peking. Aladdin asks the Genie to build him a grand palace. He also asks for himself
to be the richest man in china. The wish is granted. He goes to a party with
all great people to see the Princess and ask for the Emperors blessing. As soon
as Emperor hears he is the richest man he quickly agrees. A celebratory party
is made for them both. For now everything seems like it’s all happily ever
after, however Abanazar has come up with an evil plan to get her precious lamp
back.
Aladdin leaves his lamp in the safe hands of his love,
Princess Jasmine. However, Abanazar, disguised as a peddler, makes her think that’s
it’s a good idea to swap the lamp for a shiny new one. As the princess is about
to make a decision on what one she should swap it for she snatches the magic
lamp away, laughs at her foolishness and summons the genie. The Genie helps her
to transport the palace and all it contains too far off Egypt.
Everyone comes rushing back and the hand maidens explain
what had happened just a few moments before. Everyone freaks out but then
Aladdin remembers that he has the magic ring still. The spirit appears and
takes them on a magic carpet ride to Egypt to save the Princess.
Abanazar explains to the Princess that she will be her slave
for eternity. The Princess refuses to be, so, Abanazar throws her in the dungeon
and leaves her there to come to her senses. Aladdin appears to save the day,
they come up with a plan that she should pretend that she has changed her mind
about being a slave and call Abanazar back into the room. Aladdin then uses the
magic ring to freeze Abanazar and claim the magic lamp back. They all return to
Peking and live happily ever after.
