Look out Trump: Hong Kong Players’ pantomime is back with trademark topical humour and slapstick
Script co-author Teri Fitsell and director Jodi Gilchrist explain how this year’s pre-Christmas production of Aladdin has been an almost year-round job, but will have all the family rolling in the aisles
For more than half a century the Hong Kong Players’ pantomime has been a cherished pre-Christmas tradition. With a new original script each year, addressed at one level to children and at another to the adults who bring them, it genuinely offers fun for all the family.
“We try to make it as topical as we can – expect Trump to get a mention or two!” says co-author Teri Fitsell. “There’s plenty of silly humour and slapstick for the children, plus there’s satire for the adults. And, of course, panto would not be panto without double entendre.”
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For their 56th pantomime the Players have chosen Aladdin, an Arabian folk tale set in China, first printed in French in the 18th century.
The story was adapted in English for the London stage as long ago as 1788, and has been a popular basis for pantomime ever since. It has also been filmed many times in various forms and under various names – most notably in relatively recent years as a 1992 Disney animation feature.
“Aladdin is the second most popular pantomime after Cinderella,” says director Jodi Gilchrist of the Players’ productions. “Part of the reason for its continuing success is that it has all the components required to keep the audience 100 per cent engaged – it is like a repeated recipe that can be adapted or decorated to suit what works for that year.”
Preparing the pantomime is an almost year-round job for writer Fitsell, who has a new collaborator in Adam Hugill, a regular performer in past Players’ pantos.