PANTO fever entered the third-dimension on Saturday when Aladdin opened in Llandudno.
Showing at Venue Cymru until December 31, the seasonal staple saw song, dance, comedy and ground-breaking technology combine as an enviable cast took to the stage.
Set in ancient China, the plot follows poor laundrette owner's son Aladdin, whose love for a beautiful princess keeps landing him in hot water.
But when the evil Abanzar tells Aladdin he will make him a prince if he collects a magical lamp from the Cave of Inspiration, he soon finds himself caught in the middle of a magical adventure.
Renowned for presenting celebrated traditional pantomimes with modern twists, returning producers QDos failed to disappoint.
ITV's Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner as the sinister Abanazar - decked out in a long leather coat and villainous goatee - excelled in the dastardly role; clearly relishing the boos and hisses (of which there were many) as he slinked around the stage.
But it was the second-half opening number which gave the audience a chance to enjoy his all-singing, all-dancing performance, with energetic and razor-sharp choreography compelling to watch.
In usual panto style, the comedy came thick and fast from the outset, with returning John Evans leading the charge as Wishee Washee.
Throwing out gags and one-liners, the generation-spanning jokes had the audience in hysterics throughout.
But there was more comedy to come courtesy of Nigel Ellacott as the extravagantly dressed panto dame Widow Twankey.
Ranging from picnic inspired ensembles to a Lady GaGa get-up, the over the top wardrobe was only surpassed by a devilish dose of double entendres and the singling out of audience member 'Barry from Chester' who faced the brunt of Twankey's advances throughout the show.
A mixture of popular hits and Disney classics made-up the varied soundtrack to the evening, brought to life by Marc Mulcahey as the eponymous hero, who embodied the true panto spirit: wholesome, a bit cheeky and on-form with the young and young at heart.
Together with love interest Princess Jasmine, played by Lucy May Barker, the performers proved to be some of the strongest singers seen in recent years, with their pitch-perfect duet numbers a highlight.
But they weren't alone in their impressive vocal talents, with Tim Morgan as the Emperor of China tackling a powerhouse rendition of Love Changes Everything to keep the night eclectic, and the mystical Scherazade played by Rebecca Parker also enjoying solo numbers while providing plenty of friction with Gardiner's baddie; all complimented by the perfectly synchronised back-up dancers.
But Aladdin wouldn't be the same without a genie, which is where Aladdin offered something new to the panto cannon.
After donning the fetching 3D glasses, all-ages were subjected to flying bats, attacking snakes, and a computer-generated genie, which worked astonishingly effectively, adding to the lavish spectacle of the show.
Ticking off all the requirements for a memorable panto including side-splitting comedy and jaw-dropping effects, Aladdin is certainly a magical family show not to be missed.
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Aladdin is showing at Venue Cymru in Llandudno until December 31. For more information or to book tickets contact the Box Office on 01492 872000 or visit the website at www.venuecymru.co.uk