Dick Whittington and his Cat

On Saturday 28th December, I was delighted to accept an invitation to see the annual pantomime from St Annes Parish Operatic and Drama Society, Dick Whittington and His Cat.

This version, written and directed by Paula Curtis, is based on the classic tale. It tells the story of a poor boy named Dick who travels to London to seek his fortune, believing the streets are paved with gold. With his clever cat by his side, he finds work with Alderman Fitzwarren and falls for his daughter, Alice. When Dick is wrongly accused of theft, he runs away but later returns to defeat the evil Queen Rat. Thanks to his cat’s rat-catching skills, Dick earns fame and fortune. In the end, he becomes Lord Mayor of London and marries Alice. Full of songs, silly jokes, and audience participation, it’s a fun-filled adventure for all ages.

SAPOS are to be congratulated on a lovely afternoon of entertainment, and it was clear that the audience enjoyed themselves immensely. Direction from Paula Curtis was confident, flamboyant, and packed with energy from the outset. Her experience was on show throughout the performance, and she’d worked her diverse cast well to create a fun panto for all the family.

Set design was relatively simple but very well executed throughout. Symbolic pieces were effectively used to suggest a variety of locations and made excellent use of the somewhat limited space on stage. Bright, colourful, and a treat to look at – sterling work!

Costumes were by Paula Curtis and the SAPOS wardrobe, which must be well-stocked, as the costume changes were numerous and fast! Again, simple and symbolic in nature, the costumes were highly effective at suggesting character and intention. The wide range of props used on the day were similarly effective and well chosen.

Choreography was by Paula Curtis and Alison Thornton, and their work was designed to suit all ages and ability levels. More accomplished dancers were given more technical steps, but everyone was enthusiastic and fully involved.

In yet another role, the ever-busy director Paula Curtis also played Fairy Bow-Bells, our narrator whose job it was to keep the narrative moving and provide a bridge between the cast and the audience. Curtis took on the role with flair and was well-suited to the character, which was a joy to watch.

Dick Whittington himself was portrayed by Gill Drinkwater, who gave a classic eye-winking, thigh-slapping performance. She showed lots of energy throughout and a real sense of comfort and confidence on stage. Her greatest strength as an actor is the crystal-clear clarity of her voice, which carried around the room beautifully.

We can’t talk about Dick Whittington without mentioning his trusty feline companion, Tommy the Cat, played by young performer Amelia Evans, who was excellent in the physically demanding role.

Our villain for the afternoon, Queen Rat, was played with devilish delight by Alison Thornton, and she took to the role with relish. Thornton made the best of every appearance on stage and squeezed the audience for every last boo and hiss. Great fun!

The comedy relief came courtesy of a quartet of instrumental characters: Captain (Chas Gross), Mate (Lynda Hindle), Sarah the Cook (David Parry), and Idle Jack (Nic Boan), all of whom had the audience laughing heartily from the outset. The bumbling double-act of Gross and Hindle had fantastic on-stage chemistry, and their energy buoyed the production whenever they were on. Parry gave a cheeky performance as Sarah the Cook, delivering punchlines designed to soar above the youngest heads in the audience with glee. Nic Boan’s performance as Idle Jack was great fun and the audience warmed to the character immediately. Boan was masterful at getting the audience on side with a well-timed joke and knowing smile – a pleasure to watch.

Father and daughter characters Alderman Fitzwarren and Alice were confidently portrayed by Andrew Would and Sarah Scott respectively. Both were well cast and did exceptionally well in their roles. They added to the energy of the pantomime and gave their all on stage.

A number of smaller roles were performed by members of the proficient and hugely positive ensemble, who really did give their all to the show and added tonnes of value to proceedings. Every one of them threw themselves into the show with energy and enjoyment, which was infectious on stage and off. Well done to all!

This was a sharp and snappy pantomime that the audience enjoyed immensely. Transitions between scenes were quick and the narrative moved along at a cracking pace from the outset. Pantomimes can, on occasion, feel very long and lead to surreptitious watch-checking – but not today. A lovely afternoon of entertainment that kept audience members, young and old, amused and engaged. SAPOS are to be highly commended for their excellent work on the day.

Thank you for the invitation – I look forward to my next visit!

 

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