Dick Whittington

Beverley’s annual panto proved that around 230 people can’t be wrong – it was very enjoyable with virtually full houses for each of the six performances at Beverley’s home of panto.  In the audience were loads of children, all thoroughly enjoying themselves, even though some of the humour may well have gone over their heads.

One of the things I enjoy about this society’s pantos is the fact that they keep the songs short, thus allowing themselves the opportunity to put more in.  It pays off and, here, the styles of musical numbers were widely varied which also added interest when coupled with different styles of choreography.

We witnessed some very good performances and I must start with that of James Last as King Rat.  His costumes and makeup were excellent and his diction superb with lots of shading.  Super!

Another good performance was by Leo Brown as Tom, Dick’s talking Cat.  He was as loveable as he should have been and came across very well.

It probably goes without saying that Ian Thompson gave us another variation of his Dames, this time as Dolly Dumpling, and he and Richard Gorton, who played lazy Idle Jack, worked well together on the comedy.

Claire Cooper was a likeable Dick Whittington and opposite her was Georgia Kingston as Alice.  I enjoyed Ian Latham as the blundering Alderman Fitzwarren and the comic duo of Mandy Pearson (Captain Cuttlefish) and Alison White (Scupper) and an excellent cameo came towards the end from Alice Crow as the Sultana of Morocco.

As always the costumes, set, sound and lighting were effective but, if I’m honest, I expected more from the script.  I still think a 10.00pm finish is too late for a panto but I don’t think many people left before the end.

Christmas started here!

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