Dick Whittington

It’s pantomime time again in North Yorkshire and this year we’re following our hero to London and ultimately Morocco in another excellent production. 

Unusually, the show opens with a speech by the villain, King Rat. Whether it was his costume, the fact that such parts are usually played by Peter Fletcher or what, I don’t know, but I don’t think he had uttered a word before he was greeted by the sort of reception which such characters probably enjoy, if they’re truthful.  As he was able to maintain such a love-hate relationship with the audience throughout, we can only hope so.

It’s not long before we meet the full company, appropriately in a not-too-well-known Leslie Bricusse song “London is London” which I recalled from a musical version of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” from many years ago. This was only the first of a number of items in which a lively chorus of adults and children had several opportunities to display their talents, the children representing a number of King Rat’s subjects.

The title character here, the traditional principal boy part, was played by Andy Lloyd who clearly enjoyed the opportunity this presented. Here his character is not quite the confident sort who could be relied upon to overcome all opposition, as is illustrated by his complete misunderstanding of the meaning of the milestone placed 7 miles from London.  He soon finds himself in love with his boss’s daughter, Alice, a charming performance by Emma Whitehead.  Philip Nicholls appeared as her suitably strict father, Alderman Fitzwarren and the rest of his household was represented by his cook, Dame Dolly Dumpling and her son, Idle Jack.  These two were responsible for much of the comedy which included a fairly messy baking scene, Chris Meadley and Charlotte Towers extracting every ounce of fun from the script.  Although from her first appearance Charlotte had encouraged us to remind her to “pull her socks up” at her every entry, she needed little persuasion to do so as she made the most of the part. 

The plot entails a voyage to Morocco and so some nautical skills are required, here provided by Captain Cuttlefish and his assistant, Scupper.  Andy Mee looked every inch the sort of old sea dog required (less of the “old”, I can hear him say) but I feel sure he has helped sell many handfuls of fish fingers in his time.  Beverley Fletcher made several good contributions to the comedy as his shipmate.  There was a scene in the palace of Sultan Tikka of Masala (“google” tells me the only place of that name is in Finland, the name being a spice, of course) with an amusing dialogue where the instruction to kneel is confused with his first name, all the more amusing when it’s Neil Britton-Robertson who is playing the part. As Dick’s friend and assistant, there is also, of course, the cat, Tom, a part in which Jo Hawkins was another to find a lot of fun.  Completing the cast is the obligatory fairy, name of Bowbells here, and Diane Eyers did her best to overcome the threat presented by the rodents.

Last year’s pantomime had made use of a video wall and this was repeated here. With scenes of London, a beach on which to be shipwrecked, Dick’s dream and, most of all, the voyage itself culminating in a storm, the result was an effect so much more exciting than could have been achieved by older, more traditional methods.  Music came from a small band of keyboards and percussion which provided good support, especially in the sing-a-long at the end, a compilation of London-themed items.  I understand that rehearsals and, indeed, some performances had been affected by illness and so congratulations are due to the company for soldiering on regardless. There again, we would not expect anything else.              

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.