Dick Whittington and His Cat

This was Panto at its very best, written and directed by Fraser Morton, this was a tremendous script that was jam packed with an array of very funny one- liners and a few double entendres, and the cast made full use of them.

Dick Whittington played by Amy Potter gave an outstanding performance, vocally good, with excellent stage presence. She was supported by Alice Hornsby as Alice Fitzwarren, again vocally superb. Alison Barrett made a regal cockney Fairy Bowbells, and her adversary King Rat, was played demonically by Chris Wood, another terrific performance. The right response to his gesturing comedy came in huge dollops from Nicola Smith, as Sarah the Cook, quite outstanding, along with Edd Lovatt as the silvery tongued character Idle Jack. I loved the performance by John Wynne as Alderman Fitzwarren, a bumbling delivery that had the audience in uproar, we didn`t know what was coming next, and probably neither did he, wonderful stuff.

I liked Amy Meakin and Jacquie Saunders as Captain Bandeira and Shipshape, both vocally sound and playing their parts with appropriate gusto. Ronelle Johnny, as the Sultan of Morocco, and Sophie Pass as Peggy the Landlady, completed a wonderful cast. Oh, I mustn`t forget Tommy the Cat, played by Leah Wilks-Byrne, certainly one for the future.

An imaginative set made full use of the limited stage area, with some very good effects. I loved the rats appearing throughout.

The music chosen for this Panto fitted very well, songs and music associated with London matched perfectly. Congratulations to Jack Herbert and his Minstrels, nice to see a Panto packed with songs. He wasn`t a bad Gorilla either. All told a super evening’s entertainment.

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