WITH sales already up 6% on last year, tickets for the Regent Theatre panto Aladdin have been disappearing like magic and it is easy to see why.
The all-star cast is headlined by Stoke's own cheeky chappy Jonathan Wilkes in the title role.
Pint-sized Coronation Street actress Vicky Entwistle is a hoot as tinkering loudmouth, the Slave of the Ring, while Fame Academy's beautiful Carolynne Good displays a fantastic singing voice and is suitably modest in the often thankless role of Princess Jasmine.
However, the crowd-pulling headliners are all forced to play second fiddle to a wonderfully demonic and exuberant performance from Jason Capewell as the scene-stealing villain Abanazar.
As he did in last year's Mother Goose, popstar Robbie Williams pops up as a hologram to help Aladdin escape the cave and, despite his questionable acting talent, Robbie remains a big hit.
Director Matt Salisbury and writer Eric Potts have put together a hilarious show packed with enough gags and songs to keep both youngsters and the young-at-heart in the audience happy.
* Aladdin runs at the Regent Theatre in Hanley until January 14. For tickets, priced £10 to £19, phone the box office on 0870 060 6649.
