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 !

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