Dick Whittington

Friday night was a night of firsts for this reviewer; the first time at Thurstable School, the first review of a KYDS production and the first pantomime of the season. So it is perhaps appropriate that first impressions are reported. Plentiful free car parking and a friendly Front of House greeting were a good start and there was certainly an atmosphere of loyal community support in the auditorium. However, it quickly became apparent that the venue and the constraints that a working school imposes were and remain a source of frustration and limitation. The fact of having had to perform the technical and dress rehearsals the weekend before the show and then having had to get out and get in again, clearing the stage in the meantime, severely limited the ambition of the set. There were no backcloths or side flats, just a reversible set of contiguous flats that filled two thirds of the space.  This did leave plenty to the imagination, which had to work overtime to fill in the gaps. Furthermore, the lighting was simply what the school provided, often lighting the whole front of the hall as well as the stage. As I understood it even such lighting as there was could be moved around between the get-in and the actual performance, putting severe time pressures on the technical staff to rejig before curtain up.  Despite these structural handicaps, which were not the fault of KYDS, KYDS produced a very entertaining pantomime. 

The key element was a very witty script that was very well delivered by everyone with dialogue.  No lame one-liners and tired old jokes here but lots of modern material that didn’t offend anyone (except Victoria Beckham perhaps, but she’s fair game!). Notwithstanding the use of microphones throughout I was impressed with the articulation as well as the audibility.  A mumble becomes a louder mumble with use of a mike but this cast was clear as crystal. Also very impressive was the use of backing tracks and sound effects. KYDS may lament the lack of a band but what they lost in the spontaneity of a live band they gained in the multitude of sound effects that the mastery of the sound deck had encouraged. I have never heard so many sound effects and musical fades in and out of scenes before; certainly KYDS is way ahead of other local pantomime groups in this respect. This soundscape not only helped create a more continuous flow from scene to scene but more than compensated for the lack of set. 

The costumes were good and the make-up subtle – except for the Dame, of course, who was delightfully over the top in every respect. Choreography was fun and offered variety and interest while the choice of songs, not all of which I knew, seemed to fit the action very well. The ensemble genuinely seemed to be enjoying themselves, which is by no means a given in a young people’s stage show, and movement was purposeful and engaging.

The principal line-up was strong, encompassing an age group of 13-20 year olds.  Long legged and with a gentle tone to her voice Abigail Morgan epitomized the attractive cross-dressing pantomime hero, Dick Whittington. She displayed good chemistry with Tom Cat (charmingly and unself-consciously played by Grace Upton) and Alice Fitzwarren (Emily Mear, innocent yet forceful, especially in the opening Footloose number).  Andrew Stocker had a suitably mature characterization as Alderman Fitzwarren and gave a strong performance, keeping in character despite the temptations to corpse during the hilarious parade ground scene. Will Riglin was the very hirsute Sultan whose choice in women left something to be desired. In some ways these second act parts, with little chance to develop a character are very difficult to do but Will created an interesting persona.  Matthew Russell was a very knowing Dame Dolly and despite not quite keeping in tune during Its Raining Men he had a way of making the audience feel totally engaged. This was a very funny performance. Also very funny and well paired were Becky Wright and Phoebe Jowett as Scupper and Captain Cuttlefish – good singers and dancers too.  Ben Collins was a loveable Idle Jack, reminding me of a young Mark Wright. Alice Mason gave us Fairy Bowbells with attitude and despite a very accomplished and devilish performance from Daisy Greenwood as Queen Rat, we knew that good would triumph over evil.

A quick comment on the programme; this was informative, very imaginatively, yet clearly, formatted and on good quality paper. I very much enjoyed Dick Whittington and look forward to seeing the next show. Congratulations to all involved.

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