Dick Whittington

I always know I’m in for a good laugh with the Phoenix Players’ annual ‘half-term’ pantomime. The audience was being whipped up even during the safety announcement before the curtains opened, and the show itself didn’t disappoint.

This year the story was Dick Whittington and had been penned by co-director Peter Marcus. It was full of all the usual panto ingredients, terrible jokes, a singing competition, an outrageous Dame, a wicked baddie, and a pair of lovers triumphing over evil. The super quality programme was full of information about the show and the cast, and an interesting piece on the background to the story.

Costumes throughout were very good and a great deal of effort had obviously gone into producing the colourful, well-lit sets (although some of the set changes were a little noisy.) Sound quality was good and most of the cast could be heard easily, without the need for microphones.

Dylan Gover made an excellent Idle Jack, full of bounce and enthusiasm and easily getting the audience on his side. Kevin Cordell as Dame Sarah the Cook had some fabulous costumes and outrageous wigs, and he quickly established a nice rapport with the audience, but seemed a little quiet and hesitant at times. Sophie Rowsell was a very strong Dick Whittington, very much in thigh-slapping principal boy mould. She worked well with Juliet Hasker as love interest Alice Fitzwarren, apparently timid but with steel undertones as she stood up to her father Alderman Fitzwarren (Sophie Nickerson). Valerie Bird was delightful as Tommy the Cat, every inch the courageous cat, with well-studied movements. Bill Furlong made an imposing figure as The Sultan, tying up the strands of the story at the end.

Jo Webb was utterly delightful as Queen Rat, with fabulous costume and makeup, oozing evil and badness, and relishing every moment on stage. Experienced hands Jeremy Fletcher and Steve Penfold made a great double act as her sidekicks Ratticus and Ratley, and really shone in the chaotic “12 Days of Panto” number with Rachael Moore – a truly hilarious routine. Balancing the evil with good was Sonia Davies-Hill as the beautiful Fairy Bow Bells. Sonia is fairly new to the group and has a lovely singing voice, so I hope we hear more from her in the future.

Thank you, Phoenix Players, for entertaining us so royally once again. The audience around me, young and old, obviously had a great time (especially the child in the row behind me who I heard explaining one of the jokes to his mother!)

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