Association of Community Theatre

DICK WHITTINGTON

PADOS Theatre Group

 

On a wet, dismal, dark Tuesday in December we all need something to laugh at, and that’s exactly what I did when watching the latest pantomime by PADOS Theatre Group. I laughed from the beginning to the end, with plenty of audience participation and standing up and sitting down just to keep active.

 

Dick Whittington can sometimes become quite mundane but not this production. Under the excellent direction of Timothy Platt, this pantomime had great pace but always left time for key characters to establish themselves, and put in the knowing looks to the audience, too, and give them time to catch up on the story line. As is to be expected, there was just enough innuendo in the script without it being over the top, which added to the fun.

 

This was one of the strongest principal pantomime casts I have seen in quite some time. These performers knew their craft, and knew how to work an audience so that everyone has a great evening.

 

Jon Walker was great in the title role of Richard Whittington, who is often referred to as Dick.  He had a twinkle in his eye, a cheeky smile, and engaged well with the audience. His character was very unassuming and yet had the air of innocence of a guy travelling from Prestwich to find fame and fortune in London. Emily Richardson was the equally innocent, shy alderman’s daughter, Alice Fitzwarren. Both Jon and Emily complemented each other well.

 

Both of them were watched over by Tommy, the Cat played by Roxanne Burns. As Tommy, she was indifferent to humans and the audience knew it with her cattish asides.

 

Jack Forest, worked hard all the way through as the cheeky, lovelorn, Idle Jack. Here is a performer who is used to entertaining an audience, and knows what works in pantomime. He was able to ad-lib with ease all adding to the energy of the production.

 

Equally as good was Simon Forest as, Sarah the Cook. Pantomime is very much about timing and engaging with the audience. Simon has great command of this. He had us all laughing in every scene he was in. His line delivery was fabulous and with his knowing looks to audience, and face gurning, we understood the meaning without words being needed.

 

The kitchen scene with Jack was superb. Eggs, milk and flour were going all over the place and was just the kind of slap stick we expect. To present this to the iconic “stripper” music that is synonymous with a well-known Morecambe and Wise sketch, was quite inspired.

 

The good fairies, Bow Bells and Ding Dong, otherwise known as Kathryn Gorton and Debbie Lewis, moved the story on and gave the audience a chance to cheer. I loved their cockney accents.

 

In pantomime there is always a baddie to oppose the goodies. Lisa Harley was excellent as King Rat. She commanded the stage and the scenes that she was in. She gave the audience time to boo and hiss. Her voice was loud and clear, and dripped menace. She was supported magnificently by Sara Brockway and Amanda Ernest as her helpers, Itchy and Scratchy. I loved the high-pitched giggles that they made; they were really infectious.

 

Chloe O’Brien and Rob Livesey, as the Sultana and Alderman Fitzwarren, along with the other cast members, made this pantomime very enjoyable to watch.

 

With such limited space at this venue I was very impressed with the choreography by Susan Glover who established good shapes and formations that kept the dance numbers entertaining, especially in the use of the blue umbrellas and armography. The Lady GaGa number was a hoot.

 

Pantomime is not something that becomes a spectacle without the hard work of those not on stage. Each aspect of staging added to this pantomime, from stage design, lighting, sound and properties. I was pleased to hear not only click tracks being used but also the keyboard which must have been backstage under the direction of Neil Ravenscroft.

 

The makeup by Emily Richardson was excellent, especially that for Tommy the Cat, and Itchy and Scratchy.

 

This pantomime has set me up for the festive season and had me laughing all the way home.