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"McKellen’s Widow Twankey in Aladdin a Hit With London
Critics" -- James Inverne, Playbill
Full Story |
2004-2005 Production
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"But it's Sir Ian's Widow Twankey who steals the show.
Striding on stage in a coat of colours, Sir Ian launches into what is
virtually a stand-up routine. 'You know who I am,' he declares
triumphantly, before embarking on a hugely funny monologue." |
Ben Sutherland, BBC News
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"I don't think I have ever seen an actor more
manifestly delighted to be on stage than Sir Ian McKellen, dolled up to
the nines in drag as Widow Twankey in the Old Vic panto." |
Charles Spencer, The Telegraph
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"The great thing about McKellen is that he brings on a
genuine whiff of old music-hall: all that time in his northern youth spent
watching Norman Evans and Suzette Tarri has clearly not gone to waste." |
Michael Billington, The Guardian
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"McKellen is clearly having terrific fun and so, much
of the time, are we." |
Benedict Nightingale, The Times |
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"There is something genuinely infectious about the
relish with which McKellen throws himself into the part, modelling a
succession of outrageous outfits and attempting to strike a balance
between lewd double entendre and starry-eyed innocence." |
Paul Taylor, The Independent |
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"McKellen's lovely performance is at the heart of an
attractive show. " |
Sarah Hemming, Financial Times
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"Sir Ian McKellen triumphantly slipped into several
hideous dresses and wild wigs, assorted high-heels and low jokes yesterday
and emerged as a dragartist sublime in Bille Brown's new pantomime script
of Aladdin." |
Nicholas de Johng, The Evening Standard |
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"Any actress of the year award must be in doubt after
the arrival of a new, taut-calved lady of the boards -- Sir Ian McKellen" |
Quentin Letts, Daily Mail |
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"Dame Edna Everage should be shaking in
her stilettos. A new star has risen on the horizon of theatrical damehood,
and she is wondrous to behold. Deep of voice, brawny of frame, fierce of
face and fleet of dancing foot, the newly self-ennobled Dame Twankey
bestrides the stage of the Old Vic Theater here like a Pucci-wrapped
colossus. You may of course know her better by her civilian name: Lady Ian
... oops, I mean, Sir Ian McKellen." |
Ben Brantley, The New York Times |
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"Merrier high jinks are on tap at the Old
Vic . . . This cheeky romp
features Ian McKellen as a lady, the Widow Twankey, whose gaudy
flamboyance could give Dame Edna a run for her money. Breezily directed by
the versatile Sean Mathias, the production also includes original music by Gareth
Valentine, who tips his hat to genres ranging from opera to jazz to swing.
(There also is an Elton John tune, the spirited I Believe In You, with
lyrics by Lee Hall.)"
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Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY
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