Dick Whittington

2023 and Ellesmere Devils Pantomime Society is back on stage with their take on one of the UK’s top ten favourite pantomimes Dick Whittington written by Cheryl Barrett.

As with all amateur societies Ellesmere Devils has a fine team of people who beaver away behind the scenes or, in their case, up ladders and a scaffold tower, to turn The Ellesmere Centre sports hall into an auditorium for a week.  A mammoth task but certainly well worth the effort it takes.  Most of them also help with building the excellent and colourful sets and props. Well done to whoever is skilful enough with a jigsaw to create pots and kitchen utensils etc. to hang on said sets.   Costuming was good although there were one or two anomalies with colourful panto-wear juxtaposed with modern daywear. 

The stage crew were kept on their toes with the numerous scene changes which were carried out as swiftly as moving the large pieces allowed. Technically on the evening I saw the show  there were a few blips. Lighting, especially the follow spot worked well. Sound was overloud at times which overcame the singers but there was good operation of body mics. Late sound cues may, but not entirely, have been because cast ad libs meant they were a bit off script.  Ad libs are fine as long as things get back on track which was not always the case here.

The eighteen strong cast all did a fine job. No MD is credited in the programme but the ensemble singing and the few solos were good and the choreography well executed.  Well done Sandie Wilson excellent as Fairy Bow Bella who kept the American drawling King Rat (Liz Wood) in his place. Katey Dennis too did a fine job as Idle Jack and we enjoyed an admirable performance by Richard Fisher as Captain Rock Eel.

Tess Garner was everyone’s idea of a Principal Boy bringing Dick Whittington to life with panache together with cat Shadow beautifully played by Kim York (great make-up by the way Mindy Tidwell).  Good support came from Olivia Appleby as Alice Fitzwarren, Vicky Mills (Slimey), Teagan Courtenay-Moore (Junior), Nigel Clarke (Alderman Fitzwarren).and  Libby Burton (Chips & Mustapha Leak). Tremendous effort from the hard-working members of the chorus all of whom took on other minor roles.

Of course the success of a panto apart from the script very much rests on the shoulders of the Dame and the rapport the character has with the audience.  Suffice to say in this case James Nicholas as Sherry Trifle took no prisoners! Sherry is one of the most energetic dames I have ever seen. She was like a whirling dervish. I don't know what she was on but save some for me!  The 95% adult audience were certainly up for huge spoonfuls of Sherry Trifle’s fun.

Directing a pantomime is harder than it looks.  The many facets needed to bring everything together is, at times, like spinning plates. Enthusiasm and energy is needed from the start by all involved and there was no lack of that although three hours makes a very long evening for a pantomime, particularly for younger audience members. 

Directors Jess Bendon & Frances Fitsall must be very happy indeed with the outcome of Dick Whittington as well they should be. Congratulations to all involved and thank you for inviting me along to join the fun.

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