Widow Twankey

Widow Twankey (originally Twankay, sometimes Twanky) is a female character in the pantomime Aladdin.

It was first published in England between 1704 and 1714; and this story was dramatised in 1788 by John O'Keefe for Covent Garden as a harlequinade and included the character of 'Aladdin's Mother' (but unnamed) played by Mrs Davett.

[1] The laundry was already established as a place for a clown performance on the stage and began to be worked in, notably with Dan Leno as Twankay along with Aladdin's brother Washee-Washee in 1896.

It was performed by James Rogers who had previously played the female role Clorinda in a version of Cinderella.

[1] (many have played it more than once) Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, a U.S./New Zealand fantasy-adventure-comedy television program, added Widow Twanky to its supporting cast in 1997.