Dick Whittington (Star-Struck Theatre Company)

It's that time of the year to journey to where the 'streets are paved with gold', yes Sedgley ! at the Dormston Mill Theatre for Star-Struck Theatre and their production of Dick Whittington a production of total comedy and audience enjoyment, just how Panto should be.

Join our hero Richard Whittington or 'Dick' to his friends (oh the cue for much intended and perhaps even some unintended innuendo) a swaggering performance from Ethan Hamblett on his journey to London and eventually Morocco (Panto knows no geographical boundaries, nor the relevance of indigenous species if Keith Cartwright as 'Gonzo the Gorilla' running around scaring people in the sand dunes is anything to go by !).

Love interest provided by the glorious presence and vocal of Freya Butlin as Alice Fitzwarren still sadly overtly fathered by Andrew Bennett's subtly comic Alderman Fitzwarren but, only too keen to become betrothed to our Dick.

Laugh out loud comic moments led by Richard Probert's sassy Sarah the Cook, prone to the odd 'wig malfunction' that I wasn't quite sure if staged or just one of those amazing unexpected moments that make pantomime what it is, alongside Ashley Wilkes as Idle Jack making an art out of the sublimely stupid.

Of course Panto is all about good versus evil, the good in this case being Fairy Bow Bells a delightfully 'winged' and 'wanded' performance from Benjamin Burdall and the evil Vicky Bull's perfectly verminous portrayal of Queen Rat (aided by her henchman Ver-Man in the form of Martin Thorpe) a couple of characters that one can only love to hate.

You can't have Dick Whittington with his Cat can you, I hear you cry, well you'll be happy to know that Deb Bastable is uncannily feline as Tristram (or it might have been Tristran, chosen at random from the audience, so the poor pussy will have an identity complex by the end of the run).

Add a Sultan played by Gary Fereday and a Sultana (other dried fruit are available !) portrayed by Lydia Betts and an extensive ensemble cast that bring charm and joy to every scene they enter and you have quintessential British Pantomime that you can't beat.

Credit to Ashley Wilkes (Producer/Director), Rob Murray (Musical Director) and Emilie Walters (Choreographer) for bringing another feast of entertainment to the stage that audiences can't fail to enjoy, even when what was rehearsed isn't quite what happens on the night, that is what Panto is all about and makes the experience all the more entertaining and enjoyable for all concerned (I didn't see a face on our off stage that wasn't smiling throughout).

This production is a highlight in its own right but, if you're looking for a performance pinnacle you'll have to wait until the end for Vicky Bull doing a Mariah Carey with 'All I Want for Christmas Is You', frankly this is better than the original but, don't tell Mariah I said so !

Book Here

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Calamity Jane (Cradley Heath Amateur Operatic Society)

Due to my wonderful mother (sadly no longer with us) I was raised on a diet of Elvis Presley and Doris Day, so it is was particularly interesting to watch the Black Hills of Dakota taking root in Stourbridge Town Hall for Cradley Heath Amateur Operatic Society (CHAOS) and their production of Calamity Jane and it seriously felt like I was back in the 'Old West' in Deadwood City at the Golden Garter. Henry Miller (certainly a fizzy sarsaparilla of a comedy performance from J. Paul Murdock) and his neice Susan (played by Bek Millward) are struggling to find a star-turn for his establishment (the aforementioned 'Golden Garter') and the male dominated audience. He believes he has found an actress called Frances Fryer to calm the testosterone fuelled frenzy but, this is not Frances, it is Francis a talented actor but, certainly not the feminine charms expected although willing to don a dress and attempt to fool the locals (a talented all round performance from Adam Partridge)
Read more

Cats (Vic's School of Musical Theatre)

Well I have seen a few musical productions in my time and have been inspired to write some elaborate and auspicious words by many but, I am a little concerned that I might not have all the right observations to do justice to what can only be described as a truly breathtaking production of 'Cats' by Vic's School of Musical Theatre (the Vic in question being Vicky Addis, somebody who whilst being blessed with some talented youngsters to theatrically mould, obviously knows how to turn potential into reality on stage). Just to fill the gap if you haven't had the 'Cats' experience yet, basically poems by T.S. Eliot set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, a theatre filler since the 1980s and will undoubtedly fill the Parish Rooms at Blakedown in this case, for its sadly all too short run. So, where do I start with a plethora of engaging and characterful performances, perhaps with the captivating portrayal of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser by Kate Downes and Molly Cooper, a
Read more

Fiddler on the Roof (Manor Musical Theatre Company)

There is something still very emotional about the story of Tevye and his family in Anatevka and something surprisingly current considering what is happening at this time in Ukraine all empathetically portrayed by Manor Musical Theatre Company at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, you could almost imagine you were there in reality. Tam Weir is an outstanding Tevye building an instant rapport with the audience and maintaining that connection throughout along with his role as narrator and storyteller. He is ably supported by a large female family contingent led by a dominant yet caring performance from Paula O'Hare as Golde his wife. Large families are obviously the order of the day and there are five daughters to account for here, eldest Tzeitel played with controlled passion by Sasha Marsh. Almost forced into marriage with aging (and wealthy) butcher Lazar Wolf (a potent portrayal from Richard Parry) before convincing her father to break with 'tradition' and allow her to give into
Read more