This week, an international company of singers, dancers, and behind-the-scenes talents will bring the ancient fable Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp to life on the stage in Durban.
It is written and produced by Durban businesswoman Anjil Naidoo and promises to be bigger, bolder, and brighter than anything local audiences have previously witnessed.
“It is a show for everyone, a colossal display of dance, music, and color. “Even I could not have imagined it when I was putting it together,” she remarked.
Vash Singh and Yasmin Hankel, a couple from Cape Town, play the primary roles of Aladdin and Princess Almas, while Tshediso Kabulu, from Durban, portrays the Genie.
This week, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp opens at the Globe at Suncoast. Yasmin Hankel as Princess Almas, Tshediso Kaberu as the Genie, and Vash Singh as Aladdin are in rehearsal. Shelley Kjonstad/African News Agency photograph (ANA)
Naidoo revealed to the Independent on Saturday that she created the script while receiving cancer treatment.
Naidoo, a survivor of three types of cancer and multiple major operations that stopped her from engaging in her customary activities, stated that feeling ill for extended periods and lacking her typical vitality rendered her “mentally ill.”
Due to allergies, she was confined to bed and unable to take oral medication; she was forced to endure the pain, and it was through struggle that she created her version of Aladdin.
“I decided to create a book because, in the struggle for survival, it is necessary to tap into your own magic.”
She tackled the tale of Aladdin, and when she sent it to a few pals, they deemed it stage-worthy.
“I just wanted to add a bit extra comedy to make it more joyful and amusing,” said Naidoo.
As someone who has always loved the arts and has seen the influence they have on her children, especially when she took them to performances in different parts of the world, such as Broadway in New York, she desired to create a theatrical extravaganza never before seen in this nation.
Naidoo stated, “I imagined how incredible it would be for South African children to be exposed to something similar.”
Naidoo, a successful entrepreneur in the event management and aviation industries (her company, Skyy Aviation Academy, trains cabin crew), wished to share some of the joy she had had via the arts.
In addition to spreading the magic of theatre, Naidoo wished to revive the business following the Covid-19 outbreak, which left actors in grave straits.
“It touches into so many deep-seated human emotions, while magic and mystique provide thrill and mystery. This is especially wonderful in light of the harsh times we have all endured, when the arts are in such need need of revival,” Naidoo remarked.
For Singh, acting in Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp is “wonderful and weird” because Aladdin is a universally recognized character. He claims that he shares many characteristics with Aladdin, including a passion for making others happy and a strong familial bond.
“As a child of the 1990s, I grew up with Aladdin. These characters were our superheroes, and as a result, I feel like a child again; the spirit of adventure, imagination, and enchantment has returned,” he remarked.
He stated that having his wife Yasmin play his love interest in the play was a dream come true. “The love will truly be there; every hour we spend together is a genuine love connection. There exists chemistry… “Everyone in the audience will exclaim, ‘Wow, these people are in love!’” remarked Singh.
This week, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp opens at the Globe at Suncoast. Yasmin Hankel as Princess Almas, Tshediso Kaberu as the Genie, and Vash Singh as Aladdin are in rehearsal. Shelley Kjonstad/African News Agency photograph (ANA)
Last week, when the outfits came and the cast donned clothes and makeup, rehearsals intensified.
From the moment you enter the theater until you leave, Singh promises that you will experience an emotional roller coaster filled with adventure, wonder, and awe.
“The outfits are enormous; everything is so colossal and magnificent. Honestly, being a part of the show is a blessing,” he remarked.
The show premieres on September 29 at The Globe at Suncoast and runs through October 9. Tickets for all ages are available from Ticketpro for between R270 and R450.
Saturday’s Independent newspaper