Dick less Whittington And His Pussy

Carrying an adult-only warning, Chris Anderton pens this naughty panto. Dick(less) Whittington And His Pussy. With small cast and all age appropriate we are treated to innuendo by the bucket load and sometimes don’t even bother with that - just say it as it is! With a new venue at the Peace Community Theatre on a warm balmy night the bar is open and the audience is ready to be entertained.

Set is simple although care has been taken to get every gag out of a painted set. The store Fits-tightly and the Wan-king Chinese takeaway and all sorts of unmentionables painted on.

The Dame goes through an array of costumes including a red polka-dot swimsuit - an image that may remain with me for a while!  The audience gets wet on more than one occasion. The lines are blurred as to where the script starts and the adlibbing begins - just as it should be! The cast having fun on stage spreads like a warm hug and embraces the audience. People are picked on, NODA is mentioned more than once and birthdays are celebrated. We are at the Peace Community Theatre and ‘community’ is what it is all about - not forgetting the work Stagedoor Productions put into helping families in and around Bolton. Special effects of bodily noises add to the show. Even Crew get in on the act. Stage Manager is Debs Lyons, Set Design and Scenic Painter is Dennis Boulderstone. Lighting is Nathan Emmison, Props Sharon Harper. Stage Crew Andrew Palmer, Dave Clift and Bob Sessions.

Chris Anderton is Writer and Director and the script never misses in injecting an appropriately edgy adult sense of humour.

Sam Young and Sophia Smith are the dancers and Elaine Session is the customer in the shop.

Ben Stanier is King Rat or maybe Queen Rat (I don’t think he was sure!)? A very camp Rat and rocking the ruby red glitter shoes.

Dave Haycock as Alderman Fitstightly and the running gag about his very tight trousers was x rated and funny.

Teresa Harper as Fairy Bowlocks (read that again!) is the good fairy – although with dominatrix tendencies - who helps Dick and is not very happy about her late effects cue. Also gets a spot coming into the audience to the delight of the gentlemen.

Charlotte Palmer is the said Dick(less) Whittington hasn’t a clue whom he or she is and has her hands full with her pussy called Nuts played by Helena Carter. It’s never really clear what Nuts actually does do but the cat does get high as a kite on cat nip and has plenty of ‘cat-titude.’ The laid-back, couldn’t care less attitude was hilarious.

Now Alice the young girl is actually played by the dame, Philip Morris. You can imagine what we had to shout back every time Alice made an appearance - just too funny! He had great chemistry and fun working the audience for all his worth and again working with Graham Cohen as Jack who had feelings for Dick he cannot understand. But it all comes out in the end – boom-boom! The shopping trolly scene done at speed landed a round of applause and If I Was Not Upon The Stage was a riot. A good night was had by all. Thank you for the invite and hospitality from my guest Matthew and I.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson, D5 Rep

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