Aladdin, New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Went to the pantomime last night at The New Victoria Theatre Woking with my sister and cousins to see Aladdin with Bobby Davro and Brendan Cole. I’ve been trying to find a site I can leave a review, it was disappointing, very poor, lacking in any sort of panto craft or energy, the sound was also awful!!!. Bobby Davro thinks he's a funny man and kept adlibbing and mumbling on stage and forgetting his lines. Brendan Cole was just a vacuum and just absorbed any sort of atmosphere, it was a shame, he was just a fish out of water and the baggy costume he was in, when he did any sort of dancing just destroyed any line or dance artistry. Panto writing is meant, I believe, to be at 2 levels, for adults and children, you either got one or the other!! There was so much slap stick and mucking about by the cast, this is not panto!!! You got spurious acts in between a string of songs, Bobby Davro was a kangaroo at one point, in Aladdin!!! really. There was a particular piece with a PANDA, that was hilarious, the panda was the star of the show but just totally forgotten about!!! The storyline was non-existent, it was most odd, extremely sad and disappointing, some people were enjoying it, however there were a lot of board children talking. Bobby Davro was getting upset because he wasn't getting the applause and kept grumbling and moaning and then told some sad tale at the end to try and get sympathy and people to stand up and clap!!! it was most odd!!! Last year's performance with Craig Revel Horwood in Cinderella was just magnificent, a true star of panto, was just a superb performance, the cast enjoyed themselves, it was a strong storyline, laughter and applause . Last night it was cheap costumes, cheap scenery, but the tickets weren't cheap!!! it was it a real RIP OFF!!! Such a shame just before Christmas, probably a 2 out of 10 rating!!!!, could not recommend.

Why can't Bradley Walsh write for television comedy (If he's not already?). He knows how to make the whole family laugh without resorting to bad taste and reminds me of the decent comedy shows of the days of Morcambe and Wise, Dad's Army..... We desperately need more of his humour to replace some of the crude shows we currently have to endure. We'd at last have a modern replacement for great shows they keep having to repeat because they haven't got new stuff.

Bradley Walsh was fantastic in Aladdin at the New Victoria Theatre and i would definitely watch anything with him in it again. Very funny and all the family enjoyed it

Aladdin in Guildford earlier this month was brilliant - all the adults and the kids loved it! Imagine our disappointment today then when taking another friend's kids to the Woking version ...

I would not take my children to another panto with Bradley Walsh and co in. What should have been an amusing couple of hours of slapstick and harmless idiocy turned out to be a crude, lame and unfunny performance which I found extremely unsuitable for my youngsters. What has happened to our theatre when it relies upon the tired, feeble routines of stand-up comedians as a festive family panto?!

Aladdin at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking was great. I think it is worth every penny! What a great christmas show! kids loved it and so did i ,we had front row seats even better ,bradley picked on me all night in a nice way ,have to pick on someone made our night

Bradley Walsh in Aladdin at New Victoria Theatre in Woking is fantastic at capturing the spirit of Panto for both kids and reluctant parents/aunties/uncles/grandparents! The costumes and set had no expense spared and with a huge helping of glitter prevented anyone from leaving without a huge smile and the feeling Christmas has arrived! Walsh stole the show but that was to no detriment to Widow Twanky, who perfectly flamboyant, with comical facial expressions and gestures for the younger audience and sexual inuendo for the rest. Not to mention the beautiful voices of Aladdin and the Princess, bringing class and talent to an already brilliant evening! Thoroughly enjoyed every minute and so did my 8 year old Nephew.

Having worked FOH in theatres approx 20 years I've seen many pantos and up until recently I've felt disillusioned as most shows have appeared to be about compromise- ie get a 'star' from USA or Eastenders, pay them a fortune and forget the traditional elements of panto. Of course in these troubled times the producers of Aladdin have had to consider finances. But when watching the show it is not apparent. I thoroughly recommend this show to anyone looking for traditional Family Entertainment.