The Only Way is Dick

I have to be honest and say that I was a bit wary of attending my first ever adult pantomime!  I was very pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed the production.  Not for the lewd gags and downright smut (although there was plenty of that) but for the strength of the script writing, the excellent costumes, the strong performances and overall sense of fun that the cast generated.

The audience was in heckling form and this was dealt with very early by the Principals who had the audience’s measure from the start.  Very nicely done, without offending anyone but allowing the rest of us to enjoy the show.  This production had every panto gag that I had ever heard, plus many more that I hadn’t, and Writer/Director Luke Coldham has woven them into the traditional Dick Whittington story with great style and a keen eye for what works on stage.  Of course, this is a tale that lends itself to adult humour, and Luke took every opportunity to make it work.

Josh Handley (Dick) has developed into a very versatile and talented actor.  His interpretation of the part was perfect, with excellent facial expressions and body language that stayed just the right side of ‘Over the Top’.  Jill Snelling (Fairy Hanny, the first of many character names that needed to be listened to, so that you got the adult inference) was terrific, Jill is a very talented and versatile actress and it is always a joy to see.

Wayne Prince (Jock) gave a great performance as the slightly camp cat, shades of Red Dwarf perhaps?  Sean Hynes was brilliant as King Rat, delivering his key song, Rat Out Of Hell, with great energy and to the delight of the audience.  A slight malfunction with his cod piece but that just added to the fun!  His two sidekicks, Ratchet (Colin Gibbs) and Scratchet (Kevin Watts) worked well together and produced some very funny moments.

Martyn Williams (Alderman Fitznicely) and Louise Alsop (Alice Fitznicely) were very good too, both bringing individual characterisations that worked well within the story.  Jim Wilkinson played the essential Dame Dixie Normous well.  Perhaps a little bit tentative in the first half but he settled into the part and by the end of the show he had it nailed.  I loved Richard Butlers portrayal of Willie Wontee, he has a range of facial expressions that were a joy to behold and, even when he had a major wardrobe malfunction, he carried it off without any hesitation and even capitalised on it for the finale.  At least, I think it was a malfunction, maybe it was planned, if so it was a masterpiece!

Kilian McIntosh (Captain Watt) managed to keep a completely straight face throughout his dialogue and that cannot have been easy.  The long running gag with his name worked well and every character involved got the timing spot on.  The remaining characters, Michael McFarlane (PC P Ness) Stephanie Firth (Queen Banga) Anna Catchpole (Fanny Filler) and Vic Gray (Mayor of Essex) all contributed to the success of this show.  The six dancers performed well, led by Choreographer Stephanie Sedge, they were Stephanie Firth, Annie Butler, Anne Catchpole, Lauren Paul and Laura Roberts.

This was an excellent show, perfectly judged without being offensive.  Although I sensed that some of the audience would have liked it even more bawdy and rude, but although not a ‘family’ show, it was one that I would be happy to see again.

I must mention the technical stuff, the costumes were beautiful, the scenery was just right and the music was spot on.  The lighting and sound engineer was excellent, there were many sound effects and every single on was timed to perfection.  Thurrock Courts Players mustered a very strong cast with an excellent stage and technical crew for this production.  I do hope that there will be more, although I understand that this script was a long time in the writing so it may take a while.  But there is, definitely, mileage in this script and I would recommend that the author takes it to a recognised pantomime script agency where, I think, it will have a universal appeal to other companies.

A very enjoyable evening’s entertainment, well done to all.

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