AUDIENCES were swept along on a magic carpet ride of fun, laughter and excitement as Brompton Village Hall was transformed into the streets of Old Peking for Brompton Players’ performance of Aladdin.

Kathryn Laverick played the lead role with gusto, risking the ire of the Emperor (Andrew Cunningham) to catch a glimpse of Princess Harvest Moon, played with poise and sweetness by Imogen Grange.

But it’s not only the Emperor that Aladdin has to worry about. Evil Abanazar is after him, and Lisa Cowley is a wonderful panto nasty. She finds more than she bargained for when enlisting the help of the rapping Slave of the Ring, brilliantly played by Natalie Moores. Abanazar’s sparring with Ray Moores’ Widow Twanky, and his in turn with Wishee Washee – a show-stealing Laura Hallett – were worth the admission by themselves.

Deborah Jones’ direction was excellent, especially during a neat piece of panto-magic involving Hayley Bradley’s Policeman and a washing machine. Paul Laverick’s music ensured the pantomime bounces along to a series of toe-tapping tunes.