Dick Whittington

An Alan Frayne pantomime with colourful costumes, effective scenery, good music, a talented cast and an appreciative audience provides a perfect vehicle for Woodlands Theatrical Society. All concerned, from production team to chorus and principals, from front of house to backstage obviously worked hard together and can be proud of their achievement.
 
The company comprised 44 (according to the programme) but the quite small stage was never cluttered. The audience and the cast were connected by central steps from the stage which Malcolm Alderson, as Dame Dolly Dumpling made full use of.  Male members of the audience shrank slightly, whenever he approached to bestow his favours upon them, much to the amusement of the children/ladies present.  The cast had the audience on side from early on and the young lady beside me was incensed by the stupidity of characters ignoring the audience’s sensible advice.  Oh, yes she was!

The show was well cast.  The scripted jokes were funny and well realised.  Amusing moments weren’t solely from the script, director Pamela Alderson (in her directorial debut) seamlessly added local references.  And the harmonies in the closing number of Act One were nicely realised.

Most amusement came from Dolly Dumpling and Idle Jack (played by Esther Beadle). They were not the only amusing performers.  Oliver Jennings, (as Alderman Fitzwarren), was all the more funny for playing it straight amongst the surrounding hilarity.  I enjoyed Emma Rogerson (as Dick); I’m old fashioned, I know, but I like to see a principal boy although she never slapped her thigh!  Gareth Graham (as King Rat) was, perhaps, a little too loveable, the audience did not boo him quite loudly enough but he played the part with malign charisma.  Kirsten Dupree was a sweet and demure Alice and used her singing voice to good effect.  Marion Faulkner was a hoot as Tom with very effective makeup and cool cat moves.  Carla Dupree (as Captain Cuttlefish) struggled manfully (and intentionally) with her false moustache; John Mole-Blakey (as Scupper) delivered some of the funniest lines well.  Sarah Healy (as Fairy Bowbells) kept proceedings on track and had opportunity to sing an effective number.  In the chorus, Adam Waugh, who found himself front and centre on occasion, acquitted himself well.

I must mention Marian Lane’s Dancers; very young, playing rats and cats, as charming as ever but I missed their usual ballet number.  It was a full and long show so, perhaps, something’s gotta give.  An entertaining evening, enjoyed tremendously by the audience.  I particularly enjoyed the mash-up of numbers in the finale.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.