Dick Whittington & The Pirates

Sale Nomads set sail into the realm of pantomime with their latest production, ‘Dick Whittington & The Pirates’ …
A whimsical twist on the classic which blends real history with a fantastical flair of traditional pantomime…with pirates too, because… why not?

 

In the world of panto, where magical fairy-tales often reign supreme, Sale Nomads took what many would claim to be a daring route by choosing 'Dick Whittington’ and adding a Buccaneer twist. It’s one of the few pantomimes grounded with characters based on real people in history and the events they’re famous for, with ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Mother Goose’ being two others. Of course, with the zany nature of pantomime, the accounts are infused with immortal characters, mythological beings and talking animals to help tell their stories but the sentiment and lessons that accompany these classics so often remain at the heartbeat of the narrative. To my delight, this reimagined incarnation honoured the panto’s roots and kept the original plot as a base.

 

Having seemingly explored every nook and cranny of the pantomime genre for however long, societies like Sale Nomads will no doubt find themselves with shelves of scripts sagging under the weight of various versions of the classics. The leading panto producers, despite many attempts to showcase it, rarely reap reward when putting ‘Dick Whittington’ in the spotlight, it’s still ‘Cinderella’, ‘Jack & The Beanstalk’, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ etc. which seem to dominate our big cities at Christmas. Yet ‘Dick’ still holds a special place in the hearts of many, I particularly have a soft spot for it and it will remain a firm and upstanding favourite of mine. Anyone who knows me will know how I can chat about panto for days and I have fixed preferences, beliefs (some call them rules) and opinions surrounding what works and what doesn't. One such "rule" I have is if there isn't a princess, there ought to be a fairy. Fairy Bow Bells (a staple character in ‘Dick Whittington’) is – after Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother – widely recognised as the most iconic of pantomime fairies so I’m unsure why she was obliterated here, kids (and big kids too) attending any panto crave their dose of princess or magical fairy.  

 

The virtue of penning scripts in-house allows for the strategic inclusion of cameo roles tailored to the strengths of the cast you have available, this was a utilised opportunity with the main comic role being replaced with a ditzy duo whose market street capers were a stand out segment for them. In this version, Dick got a dog as well as the expected cat companion, a mermaid which proffered my most infectious titter of the night (Rock lobster) and various speaking roles amongst the cockney and pirate ensembles. The villain is crucial and pivotal to any panto, as you’d expect with ‘Dick Whittington’, we got the rat, aptly named Drat, who was considerably overshadowed through no fault of his own. With the omission of the fairy from the script there wasn't as much for him to fully engage with or anyone for him to play off as a counterpart which diminished the presence of the primary antagonist into a secondary role. Duck The Cat and Alice Fitzwarren were brought to life with vibrant energy, ensuring they made a lasting impression. The Pirate Queen – Annbonee – showcased her vocal prowess, a definite highlight not only of her individual performance but of the show as a whole.   

 

In this particular rendition, to incorporate the swashbuckling concept into the existing story, the traditional maritime captain was cleverly replaced with Captain Prat - a pirate, and the Moroccan sultan figure switched with the afore mentioned pirate queen which all worked perfectly and seamlessly found their place within the story without turning it into something too unconventional. While the structure of the script didn't quite pack the punch, I still found joy in and genuinely appreciated the delightful new angle it introduced. I fear the abundance of additions and exciting new ideas led to a dilution of the key plotline. The percentage of jokes were plentiful in comparison to previous years and a standout aspect of the production was the song choices, most offered a wave of nostalgia which I adored – who doesn’t love to hear a banger they haven’t heard in ages!? – the show boasted an abundance of catchy hits from the last few decades. I mean, Britney was in there, of course I loved it!

 

The scenery, a hallmark of Nomads' pantomimes, lived up to expectations. A highlight was the marvellous octopus exhibition, a visually striking element that left me yearning for more, I loved it! The attention to detail in the set design truly elevated the presentation, sterling job as ever! Technical departments offered fine support too, we could hear everyone clearly (something which should never be taken for granted) and lighting added an extra layer of visual interest to the entire experience too. 

The dedication of the entire cast and crew was evident, it was clear how much had been invested into the show and this collective commitment did not go unnoticed. The passion of the entire team elevated the overall experience.

 

In conclusion, Sale Nomads delivered a swashbuckling spectacle with ‘Dick Whittington & The Pirates’ a memorable experience for all.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.