Pantomime has been dismissed by some as “not real theatre,” however, I must disagree, and Dick Whittington is an excellent example of why. To be a pantomime actor you need to be able to sing, dance, and act. It also helps to have comic timing, confidence, and the ability to react to what an audience does, or indeed doesn’t do.
And so, I settled myself in at East Cowes Town Hall, which is a venue I have not previously visited in its capacity as a theatre, ready to be entertained.
Our hero of the evening was Dick Whittington, ably played by Emily. I was blown away by her singing and her great stage presence. She has a cracking voice, and the audience was swept along by her performance. Emily easily demonstrated her flexibility as a performer, and her physicality created some good dramatic, and indeed humorous, moments.
And what is a hero without a side kick? Dick Whittington’s cat – named by the audience this evening as Barbie – was played by Callum. The dancing and movement were eye-catching. Callum’s feline movements and dry wit created a lovable character which created a fine dynamic between the Cat and Dick. This was a first-class performance and worthy of note.
Bet played the villainous Queen Rat with a delightful wickedness, cackling and strutting her way magnificently across the stage with a swish of her tail; a marvellous boo-worthy foe.
In contrast, Fairy Bowbells – played by Bee – was a gentle comic character with a good heart. The voluminous skirt clanging loudly whenever Bowbells name was uttered. Bee’s clear responsive facial expressions added to the character.
The audience immediately warmed to Idle Jack who was played with spirit by Ian, who has a strong stage presence. His horrific puns and one liners were just what was needed.
The script was fully of cheeky jokes and one-liners, as is tradition. Sarah the Cook – the traditional pantomime dame played by Iain – was responsible for most of these, much to the audience’s delight.
Also deserving praise were Chris and Vicky who played Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwarren with suitable gravitas and created good clear characters. Completing the Fitzwarren family was Tammy who played Alice. She played the character with a blend of sweetness, gumption and a touch of sassy humour.
The Ensemble also did an excellent job of supporting the stage action, along with the Children’s Chorus. Everyone was clearly enjoying themselves, which really came across.
There were a lot of nice touches, such as the name of the Dick Whittington’s cat being chosen by the audience, and the appearance of the music director on stage, ostensibly with the health and safety announcement, but also to select a child out the audience to hit the start button on proceedings.
Throughout the show the audience participated with every boo, hiss and cheer, as well as “oh no he isn’t”, as required. When the notes of the final song were still ringing out, they leapt to their feet in ovation, just in time for the streamer cannon to go off.
It was a warm, fun, and delightful show, and everyone involved should be proud.
Reviewed by Si Lynch