Dick Whittington

It was lovely to be back in Altarnun to watch your production of Dick Whittington. The original folk story was 
based on the real-life Richard Whittington who was four times mayor of London. Dick was a poor boy who 
went to London to find the streets paved with gold, he found/bought a cat, started employment with 
Alderman Fitzwarren, fell in love with his daughter Alice and was hoping to make his fortune. Your story had 
the same principle but I deduced after reading Bodmin, Launceston and Altarnum on the signpost was
obviously set in Cornwall. 

Your writers had clearly spent a good deal of time creating a script that continued the bones of the original
story with known characters but added their own bits of magic which took us off at different tangents but 
ultimately ensured we had a happy ending. It was great to hear the obligatory ‘Dick’ comments during the 
performance.  As always you are well supported by your local audience and the hall was quickly filling up 
with an enthusiastic crowd waiting to be entertained.

I understand from a member of your tech team that you had a problem with a projector which is an integral
part of your pantomime providing all the images on the back wall which depict your scenes. Luckily you were 
able to find one to use for the production and I hope your fund raising soon covers the cost. The images and 
effects used during the performance added validity to the story. We were transported from a spooky 
graveyard, to a kitchen, the King’s Head, a moorland, a prison room, rocks and buildings, fight sequence and 
the grand finale. 

The curtained stage was set up at front of the hall with steps down to the hall and the piano was set at stage 
right. It is ideal that you can use the central aisle in the hall to give you an extra playing area. The scenery 
used added authenticity to the scenes, the signpost was clearly marked and the shelf unit in the kitchen with 
its contents was great, I liked the inventive titles on the books. The smaller personal props were ideal and well 
managed by the cast. 

The radio mics that were used ensured the text could be heard although there did appear to be a few mic 
problems with Queen Rat’s but this may have been because the costume interfered with it, maybe reposition 
it next time. 

The musical numbers chosen covered various genres and were either sung to a backing track, accompanied
on the piano or sung acapella. The stage lighting was great adding mood and meaning and there were 
some great sound effects used during the show which added detail to the scenes.

The dance routines were ideal for the members of your cast and had been learnt and delivered with feeling.

The costumes had been chosen carefully to ensure they were ideal for the named characters and fitted well. 
It was good to see that accessories, footwear, hair styles and make up had been taken into account.

The signpost was removed and we found ourselves in a stormy graveyard with bats flying around and 
headstones with the epitaph’s ‘Rest in Pieces’ and ‘I Told you I was ill’ on. There was knocking on a door and a 
disembodied voice explaining ‘Not the face’.

The first actor on the stage was the villain of the pantomime Queen Rat and she was out for revenge she 
sang ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ with feeling. She was dressed in a hooded cape and half covered face which we 
found out was covered in scars.  She had a convincing evil laugh and showed a determination to avenge the 
wrong doing which had happened to her.

Millie Stone and Bill Board – great names by the way – popped up during the performance usually explaining 
the passage of time. The two young players knew their stage directions and spoke clearly with quite a dour 
expression. The audience enjoyed their comment ‘We are only signs so don’t take any notice us.’  

Smugglers Jack, Steve and Arty were three determined characters who entered from the back of the hall 
decked out in breeches and checked shirts with their lanterns. We found that they had ingenious ways of 
lighting their lanterns which were to be used to do a bit of wrecking. The two older wreckers’ reactions when 
they fell after the drink was great and they moved and spoke well. The little one appeared to be in control 
and worked with the Alderman, well played.

Cookie Macbook the Alderman’s cook spoke clearly although she did make use of the prompt but had the 
audience in stiches when needing assistance. She wore some lovely detailed well-fitting costumes and 
interacted convincingly with the other cast members and audience. She was constantly making new 
creations in the kitchen and I did like her ‘PINGM’ meals. She was clearly in charge in her kitchen and berated
Idle Jack about his lack of motivation. The cooking sequence was well delivered with the inevitable pie in the 
face.

Idle Jack was clearly portrayed as expected by his name, temperamental and not interested in getting out of 
his own way.  Jack continually demonstrated his incompetence and looked just right attired in dungarees 
and a t-shirt. ‘He’ instantly showed his dislike of Dick and proved a good ally to Syd following the bewitching. 
Your actor had excellent stage presence move well and sang with feeling.

Syd was definitely more focused than Jack and used all his persuasive skills to entice Jack into use different 
methods to get what he wanted they worked well together. Syd created a strong persona, moved well and 
spoke with a good clear voice. 

The actor depicting Alice Fitzwarren was lovely. She created a well-spoken, kind, caring character who saw 
the best in everyone and had no idea of Jack’s feelings for her or his reaction when she brought Dick into the 
house. She showed her affection for her father, fear when tied up, shock at the deception from her father and 
joy at reconnection with her mother.  She looked the part and had a lovely singing voice, ‘A Dream is a Wish 
Your Heart Makes’ was lovely.

The Alderman appeared on stage was well dressed and as far as anyone was concerned a wealthy caring 
father of Alice and a pillar of the community. But appearances can be deceptive he had numerous debts 
and was working with the wreckers to increase his income. He had also betrayed his Elizabeth his wife. He 
created a well-rounded character who spoke clearly and moved with purpose.

Dick was on his way to find the streets the gold paved street of Truro. He looked the part with his arci typal
bundle over his shoulder. He saved Alice, was welcomed into her house and as expected had the money 
taken by the rats but all was well at the end. Your player had a great stance, clear diction and moved well.

Your cat was beautifully dressed and great at disposing with rats. She created a believable relationship with 
Dick and had some great lines which were delivered with feeling. The ‘Get Physical’ routine with all its corny 
lines with Jack was excellent.

The rats scuttled around following their Queen’s orders They all made their characters a little different and 
ensured all their text could be heard.

Smuggler Jack found himself upgraded and brought a gravitas to the role of Captain Morgan. The Radio DJ 
and Boat Commentary was delivered with meaning by your player.

Many thanks for a wonderful evening’s entertainment and I would like to congratulate all your members both 
on stage and behind the scenes on all their hard work.

Disclaimer 
Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in 
question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable 
that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 
The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in 
particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective 
as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have 
been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre.
It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged 
you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful 
in improving future productions.

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