Dick Whittington

Take a traditional panto, a baddie, a man dressed as a woman and a woman dressed as a man and what do you get, a first-rate pantomime.  SSA Drama performed this home-grown panto with great gusto and how the audience enjoyed it.

Leading the company were Georgina Fair and Laura Parker as Alice Fitzwarren and Dick Whittington.  Both had very charming voices.  They were well supported by Jennifer Alton who played a very good cat.  Sarah the Cook was played by Chris Cooper, co-writer of the production who excelled in this role.  The Other co-writer was Matt Barnard as Alderman Fitzwarren, who gave a rousing rendition of a song mentioning most of the countries in the world.  How he remembered all those places I do not know.  Helen Gibbs played a very good Queen Rat and how the audience enjoyed booing her.  Her counterpart, Fairy Bow-Bells was played by Emma Doran and the scenes they had together worked well.  Good support came from Harvey Grant and Alex Fraser as comedy duo Port and Starboard.  James Newman played Sarah the Cook’s other son Idle Jack.  Good support also from Pete Bayliss and Amy Williams.  The principals were well supported by the large chorus.

This was a fast-moving production which made full use of the stage area available.  It included everything you expect from a Panto and a wonderful UV Scene in the second act.

Full use was made of the Rochelle Dance Academy in between the slick scene changes. 

Costumes and Wigs were first rate.  A lot of thought had gone into the production to make sure it looked right.  Scenery was bright and stood out.  The songs in between the dialogue were keep down to just over a minute long and ensured that some of the younger members of the audience did not get restless. 

Chris and Matt, besides being co-writers, also acted as director and assistant director of this production and what a fine job they did

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