Aladdin pantomime script

ALADDIN
By Dave Buchanan
Perhaps the most popular of pantos, with the one exception of "Cinderella", this version follows traditional lines.

PLOT RESUME
Aladdin is tricked by wheeler-dealer/magician Abanazar into retrieving the magic lamp from a cave in the hills. The lamp enables him to pay court to Princess Ting-Ling, but Abanazar gets it back and usurps the throne of China. However a combination of luck and youthful ingenuity restores the status quo and all ends happily.

The plot fairly cracks along with a mixture of comic set pieces and spectacular FX.

CAST 5 MALE 7 FEMALE PARTS

MAJOR

Aladdin (Principal Boy)
Widow Twankey (Dame)
Wishy Washy
Abanazar Empress of China
Princess Ting-Ling (Principal Girl)

MINOR

Jeanie (of the Lamp)
Grand Vizier
So-Long (Princess's maid) Nitty Poo (Abanazar's assistant)
Pride & Malice (sprites)

4 MAIN SETS
Production notes inc FX and musical numbers suggested.

SET PIECES
Haunted cave
Dame's washing line routine & tea party
Magic & telepathy tricks
Great Wall of China illusion

Script Sample - Winny's Washeteria

Widow Twankey’s back yard, with a garden fence along the back, and blue sky above. There is a sign UL: "Winny’s Washeteria"

Enter Widow Twankey R. She brings on a washing line, and stretches it right across the stage. By the usual device, she is seen at the beginning and end of the line. It has the usual comic clothes, mainly underwear, on it

WIDOW Hello, everybody! Hello, kids! Say hello, Winny! That’s my name - Winny. No, dear, not Winny the Poo. Let’s hear it from the boys! Hello, boys! Now let’s hear it from the girls! (Ad-lib with the audience) Let’s hear it from the mums and dads! Hello, mums and dads! Do you like my washing line? You’ve heard of the Piccadilly Line? Well this is the Twankey Line! Do you know what part of the country I come from? Washington! (Nearly collapses at her own joke) And what about this line-up? I’ve got bloomers, girdles, bras, Y-fronts, panty-hose, long johns and thermal knickers. The underworld of (local town)! Who knows? (Pointing to lady in audience) Yours might be here, Missus! (Pointing to man) That chap’s just seen his Y-fronts!

Enter Wishy Washy, R

WISHY Hello, Winifred. How are you? Blooming?
WIDOW Oh abso-blooming-lutely!
WISHY You know, that Princess was a lovely girl.
WIDOW Typical men. Always ogling pretty girls.
WISHY Ogling? Me? Never! Anyway, I don’t like pretty girls. I prefer you!
WIDOW Oh Wishy, you are awful! (Pushes him) But I like you! In any case, I’ve had men at my feet for years.
WISHY Lovers?
WIDOW No, chiropodists! Yes, men have fought over me. Once two men fought a duel with pistols.
WISHY And which one got you?
WIDOW Both of them - one in the leg, and one in the shoulder! Oh yes, I have a classic face. Like Helen of Troy. A face that could launch a thousand ships.
WISHY Or in your case, sink the Titanic!
WIDOW This is the face of a seductress.
WISHY I didn’t know you worked on the buses!
WIDOW You know, Wishy, I often think of myself as Venus di Milo.
WISHY Yes, ancient, and with a few parts missing!

Enter L, Abanazar

ABANAZAR By the beard of the prophet! It can’t be! It is!
WIDOW Who’s your friend?
WISHY Looks familiar.
ABANAZAR Winifred Twankey! Do you know who I am?
WIDOW Let me guess. I know. You’re Michael Aspirin and you’re going to say, "Winifred Twankey, This Is Your Life!"
ABANAZAR Wrong!
WIDOW Who are you then?
ABANAZAR (holding out his arms) Sister-in-law!
WIDOW (to Wishy) He’s crazy. He thinks he’s my sister-in- law. I haven’t even got a sister-in-law.
WISHY No no, Winifred. You’re his sister-in-law. Isn’t that right, Mr -
ABANAZAR Abanazar. Precisely, Mr -
WISHY Washy.
ABANAZAR Dear lady, I am the brother of your late husband.
WIDOW You know, that’s right. He was late. Always. Except when he went to the pub.
ABANAZAR No no. Your deceased husband.
WIDOW Diseased? He was diseased all right. He died of it. An excess of alcohol.
ABANAZAR He drank himself to death?
WIDOW No, he was run over by a brewery lorry! You know, Mr Yabadabadoo -
ABANAZAR Abanazar.
WIDOW Whatever. I didn’t know he had a brother. He never mentioned you.
ABANAZAR Not even my wealth?
WIDOW Wealth?
WISHY I know where I saw him. He’s the magician that was nearly lynched yesterday.
ABANAZAR A misunderstanding. Now dear sister Twinkle -
WIDOW Twankey.
ABANAZAR I have a proposition.
WIDOW You should see a doctor!
ABANAZAR I require the services of your son Aladdin. In return I offer one hundred gold pieces.
WIDOW One hundred! Well I -
WISHY Make it two hundred.
WIDOW Wishy!
ABANAZAR Very well, two hundred.
WISHY Make it five hundred.
ABANAZAR No. Two hundred is my final offer.
WIDOW Done!
WISHY What would Aladdin have to do?
ABANAZAR Why don’t we have the lad in and ask him?
WIDOW Good idea.

from Aladdin, Act 1 Scene 4

Script details

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