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However, once the adrenaline rush has slowed down, the incredibly funny, multi talented and highly skilled Richard Dax, will probably wish he had not said it to me after a couple of glasses of mulled wine.
The normally modest Mr Dax was on a superb high after his first night performance as the Dame in Aladdin and was obviously pulling my leg, but he is an actor who has presence on a stage irrespective of his role.
Put him in an outrageous wig and dress and call him a dame, then he is like the 8.15 from Liverpool Street going through Gidea Park station - unstoppable.
Richard makes Aladdin at the Billet Lane theatre special, so if you think, when you have seen one dame, you've seen them all, be prepared for a surprise.
He takes the place apart, and even with the strength of the Cut to the Chase Company, he really drags everything out of the part.
At one time the pantomime was the 'earner' for the Queen's, taking more in a couple of months than the entire season put together, but not now.
We have top quality theatre throughout the year, so in some respects the pantomime has had to grow up along with the audience.
Youngsters are much more sophisticated today and expect more to accompany the slapstick and 'behind you' highlights, and this panto certainly gave them that as well as value for money.
Directed by Matt Devitt with a cracking set from Rodney Ford, Matt and Artistic Director, Bob Carlton have thrown everything at this production, and it shows in the quality of the result.
Bouncing literally off Richard Emerson in his role of Wishee Washee, the duo of Richards ran the kids wild with a tickling stick of terrible jokes as the action rarely slacked in pace.
Even the Rainbow and Harold Hill Brownies in the audience had to work harder then ever before screaming at top pitch.
Richard Emerson has a wonderful command of his facial muscles and they work harder than most people do in a good day. He told me recently in an interview he was not funny. - Oh! yes he is.
Emily Gardner played Aladdin and Maria Lawson the Princess So-Shy, Philip Reed and Ben Goddard were musicians, James Waverley the boo-hiss Abanazar, Nathan Hamlett the Emperor of China and Eamonn O'Dwyer the Genie. Here lay the strength of the pantomime.
Each of these actor/musicians can hold centre stage in their own right, and showed what a superb group of team players they are.
Emily has put in some superb performances this year, notably as Rita in Willy Russell's Educating Rita, and more recently as the blind Susy in Wait until Dark. In that she put in such an intense performance, that it drew deep breath.
Mind you, her thigh slapping Aladdin drew quite a few as well I have to say.
Similarly, Maria as the demure Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and spoilt adolescent in Wait until Dark. She was every inch the princess in Aladdin.
One role that did not run as expected was the Mr Nasty, Abanazar. Usually a willing victim of the howling boo and hiss brigade, James Waverley gave the gargoyle from the deep a charming touch of Bertie Wooster.
It was so unexpected and he made you almost feel sorry for him at the 'I don't have to come here to be insulted, line.
It was also a very welcome return to the theatre by Ed Bruggemeyer and Margrit van der Zwan.
These two classical musicians have spanned the valley between Mozart and mayhem of pantomime and as always, bring a touch of class to the fly away musical score.
One other little joy, or should I say 24 in total, is the essential addition of three teams of youngsters. This performance featured the Green Team of Christopher de Smedt, Kathryn Savill, Jade Tansley, Adam Green, Peter Rowe, and three of the superbly talented Hilder family, Sascha, Chloe and Stephanie. Other performances will be the Red Team of Jodie Mooney, Philip Ovel, Jade Liman, Christopher Willmore, Sophia Hornsey, Abbie O'Connor, Ben Walker and Amy Elsley, and the Blue Team of Jack Gould, Jessica Morris, Daisy Cole, Matthew Nicholson-Navin, Hannah-Marie Keeble, Katie Surtees, Sarah Lowers and Rickie Vale.
Pantomime is always a lot of fun, but this one has something a little special. It was sophisticated family entertainment without embarrassing moments, with nothing to offend or defend.
It was as if by adhering to the formulae of pantomime, bags of energy, rotten jokes and recognising that young people are more aware of their environment, the mix had a finite touch to it. I think it now leaves us adults to catch up, and no, I am not going to put it behind me.
Aladdin runs until January 15 with tickets, �8 to �16, selling like hot cakes from the box office on 01708 443333. I have to say, this is a bit special.
Romford Recorder - Friday 10th December 2004
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