Dick Whittington

Last time I attended a Bunbury Players performance, it was their bi-annual adult panto, so I was excited to see their more family-friendly rendition of "Dick Whittington" at the Mildenhall Jubilee Centre. Speaking with Director Hannah Strathern beforehand, I was curious if they had managed to maintain the same level of humour – adult pantos are known for their risqué double entendres. I was pleased to find that the one-liners and classic panto gags were abundant throughout the show.

The production opened with a suitably over-the-top King Rat (Dominic Bunten) towering over Fairy Bowbells (Emily Smith). Dominic's rendition of "Rat out of Hell" was a standout moment. Emily brought a refreshing sass and grit to her role, deviating from the typically sweet and gentle panto fairy.

As the scene transitioned to London town, we met Alderman Fitzwarren (Kiran Parsons) and his daughter Alice (Chloe Gilbert), who delivered a strong opening song. Alderman Fitzwarren's buffoonish antics, with his left hand behind his back and wagging right finger, became an endearing feature.

Enter Dame Dolly Dumpling (Edward Bye) and Idle Jack (Harrison Southgate), who played off each other brilliantly and engaged the audience with the frequent call to "pull your socks up, Jack," each time he appeared with mismatched socks (a subtle but delightful addition). Our Dame had an impressive 11 costume changes, each more extravagant than the last. While not a natural singer, Edward's performance was delivered with a "drag-queen finesse," ensuring the adults in the audience had plenty to chuckle about.

The scene then moved outside of London, where we met our hero, Dick Whittington (Amy Cahill), and his cat (Scarlett Proctor). Amy's impressive singing voice shone throughout and she nailed all the thigh slaps. Her quick improvisation when a gravestone wouldn't stay in place was particularly amusing.

The highlight of the show for me was Captain Cuttlefish (Tracey Shaughnessy) and his mate Scupper (Carrie Parsons). This dynamic duo were a tour de force of panto stooges, delivering a flawless performance. Bravo!

The chorus was well-rehearsed, and the group numbers were well-executed. A special moment was when the children took the stage for their own number in Act 2 – a thoughtful touch.

The set design included some clever elements, such as a ship that was spectacularly destroyed piece by piece during a storm scene in Act 2. Although the execution was a bit slow for my liking, it was a well-thought-out idea. Another amusing set piece was the 8ft+ stuffed camel that ran around the stage when the characters landed in the exuberant Sultan of Morocco’s (Eleanor Vaughan’s) country.

My final highlight was the music selection. Well done to Will Cahill  and Hannah Strathern for choosing plot-appropriate songs that flowed seamlessly with the story. The sheer number of songs was impressive, with most performed exceptionally well. I might have shortened a few of the bigger numbers, but overall, they were delightful.

This was a well-rounded panto, with everything working harmoniously. There were standout performances, a strong cast and crew, and, importantly, everyone seemed to have an amazing time. The energy from the society was palpable – well done to all, and I look forward to "Eurobeat" later this year.

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