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Dick Whittington

Author: Katherine Hempstead

Information

Date
16th December 2018
Society
Danbury Players
Venue
Danbury Village Hall
Type of Production
Pantomime
Director
Jenny Tyler & Gary Jarvis
Choreographer
Gary Jarvis, Emma Jarvis, Lydia Rose & Zoe Insull

The hall was packed, the children excited, the parents just as equally. The atmosphere was buzzing as our nemesis of the afternoon, The Rat King, met Bow Bella, our fairy guide to open up the show.  A stark contrast of good verses evil using accurate and effective spots picked out the glitter on Bow Belles blue gown, played with a delicate yet warming cockney accent by the competent and well voiced Paris Bone, who opened the show with the number Feeling Good. Her counterpart, the Rat King, played by Al Pitcher sang back in duet with Feeling Bad, with well held vocals and constant gleefully evil stage-presence. The audience cried boos of delight with every entrance of our Rat King, to the response of ‘Aw Shu-up’, dressed in a 1950’s style rat pack pinstripe suit.  We were in good hands with Lucy Charlesworth leading the story as affable Dick, who had journeyed to London to seek his fortune.  Always cheerful, comfortable to chat to us, and also a competent singer, although I did feel she was a little out of her comfort zone singing in a lower key to counteract the balance of playing a young man opposite Charlotte Vickers, playing Alice. Alice was the perfect model of a young lady falling in love with this charming lad, looking to her father Fitzwarren for guidance, played by Stuart Charlesworth. A few stumbles on his lines perhaps, but easily done in this fast paced and busy production with not a moment of stillness. Shadow the cat eased quietly onto the stage, played by Charlie-Ann Rogers, who was a little less feline in physical performance than I would have expected, a little reserved, but looked the part complete with swishing tail and pointed ears.  The tune ‘This is Me’ was truly uplifting, with the stage quickly flooded with young singers and dancers in unison for the big number. 

Charging onto the stage was Jack, played by Andy West, who had great rapport with the audience and didn’t miss a beat. His ‘mother’, Sherry Trifle, played by Ben Allen made a wonderful dame and lived up to this coveted role. Huge stage presence, great physical and comic timing, he was a delight playing against Jack, wooing the Captain of the ship, Rock Eel, and keeping the madness and momentum of the production fully flowing.  Jack Charlesworth as Rock Eel was a riot, with a perfect cod French (if you pardon the pun) accent, with a drawn on moustache and was a great match with Trifle with opposing stature. Their number ‘Holding out for a Hero’ was a show stealer and had the audience in fits. His Motley crew led by Chips (Caroline Bradley) kept us laughing with their antics in Sherry’s parlour and their attempts of drilling with their mops (a well rehearsed scene). I couldn’t always hear the duo Salt and pepper (Mary Bradley and Joanna Burchell), some of the delivery was lost in the near organised chaos onstage, but their pace and camaraderie with chips and their captain made up for this. 

The Rat King’s entrances were met with plenty of boos and hisses as he was shadowed by his ‘pack Slimey, Junior and Deano played by Lydia Rose, Iris Hill and Alex Owers.  All dressed as 1950’s gangsters and slightly clueless characters in their own right, looking to their king for guidance. The pack were lacking a little in cohesiveness, I would have liked to have seen a bit more badinage, but overall were a good platform to represent the evil in our panto.

There were some lovely moments, including our three little PC’s speeding onto the stage, and a simply adorable camel, as well as the choreography in ‘Wipeout’ and ‘Under the Sea’.  The inflatable props added plenty of laughs, as well did the asides which made the audience feel fully included in the fun that was clearly being had by the cast.  The backdrops were very effective, the staging simple but necessary to accommodate for the large cast, and the music well chosen and directed.  My two small boys sat laughing throughout, and being the most honest of all audience members, I think speaks for all of us.

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