Seasoned With Panto

Remember Aladdin, the 1992 Disney animated film about a street urchin who finds love with a princess? That was a pretty good movie. But it needed more of something. No, not more shots of Jasmine's boobs, perv. It needed more ridiculousness. Sure, a big blue genie, cunning monkey and talking parrot are kind of ridiculous, but that's nothing compared to Theatre Britain's live-action version of the classic story. Tired of quiet December evenings at home watching A Christmas Carol? Theatre Britain's got a real British treat for the whole family. Every year, the local Anglophilic theatre company puts on a Christmas pantomime, or "panto," as it's known in Britain, where it's a seasonal tradition. This year's performance is Aladdin, and it's got more wacky high jinks, cross-dressing and audience participation than the 10 a.m. "family show" of the Disney movie at any local theatre. (Well, hopefully more cross-dressing.) Bring the whole family, as audience members are encouraged to boo, hiss, cheer and jeer along with the actors onstage. Performances are at the KD Studio Theatre, 2600 N. Stemmons Freeway. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through December 22. Special shows are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 19, and Thursday, December 20. Tickets are $6 to $15. Visit theatre-britain.com.
Fridays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 2:30 & 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.; Wed., Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Thu., Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. Starts: Nov. 30. Continues through Dec. 22, 2007