Visual marvels, delightful wit shine in Yuletide pantomimes

Whether heading deep into the Cave of Wonders or soaring through the skies, taking the second star to the right, then straight on till morning, this season's English-language pantomimes offer a fantastic treat of visual marvels and delightful wit, song and dance.

Masquerade's Aladdin the Pantomime at the Manoel Theatre, in Valletta, and MADC's Peter Panto at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre in Ta' Qali, promise to deliver the goods, leaving theatregoers spoilt for choice.

Dames Malcolm Galea (Aladdin) and Jean-Pierre Busuttil (Peter Panto) are an absolute scream, tour de force of comedy and improvisation. Comic actors Philip Stilon (Wishee Washee, Aladdin's big brother), who makes a welcome return to pantomime after a long absence, and Alan Montanaro (a fiendishly delightful and hilarious Captain Hook), threaten to steal the show from their respective dames.

No Peter Pan would be complete without flying, and the flying sequences are spectacular and unlike anything seen in local theatres before. To bring this about, MADC engaged the services of Nick Kirkby, whose great-grandfather took care of the flying for J.M. Barrie in the original production of Peter Pan in London in 1904.

Performances of Peter Panto run till January 3 and Aladdin remains on stage till January 6. Both productions will take a break on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.