It’s difficult to refer to the opening of Dick Whittington and his Cat as a “village scene”, as it’s set in London, but the square in which our tale begins is colourful and quaint and soon filled with enthusiastic singing and dancing.
The opening number, London is London, taken from the 1969 film Goodbye, Mr Chips, becomes a clever mash up, with King Rat emerging from the stage trap door to join the proceedings with his version of London Calling by The Clash.
Todd Carty, as King Rat, seems very comfortable in the role, extracting the usual “boos” and “hisses” from the audience and quickly switching, as the script demands, from a rather well spoken rat to sounding like a real East End villain. All his lines are in rhyming couplets and his scenes with the cockney Fairy Bow Bells (Allison Harding), who aims to thwart his plans to become Lord Mayor, all work very well.
Up on Highgate Hill we meet our traditional principal boy, Dick Whittington (Katherine Glover) looking resplendent in the usual short tunic and thigh-high boots, and his very athletic and gynastic cat (Felicity Morris). The audience offer up many choices to name the cat, and tonight they choose Sparkles.
Francesca Leyland, as Alice Fitzwarren, looks every inch the part and has a crystal clear, and very powerful, singing voice. She works well with David Alder as her father, Alderman Fitzwarren, to move the storyline along and as Dick’s love interest in the production.
The four dancers Maddie Hope Coelho, Laura Hills, Jonni Gatenby and Elliott Lewis-Scott, together with the juvenile chorus from the Deborah Lamb Theatre School, show off their well rehearsed choreography, by Sam Spencer-Lane, and really work hard to make sure that the underwater UV scene is a real wow.
For several years now the comedy duo of Martyn Knight and Tucker have dominated the pantomime stage and this year, as Sarah the Cook and Idle Jack, they return to take their rightful places centre stage and deliver their corny one liners and anarchic ad-libs with perfect comic timing. The “messy” ship’s kitchen scene is a novel take on a well loved pantomime scene, that allows them to really show off their superbly accomplished slapstick comedy skills.
With Dick Whittington and his Cat, Chris Jordan and Eastbourne Theatres have proved, once again, that there are three parts to a traditional festive season, roast turkey, mince pies and the Devonshire Park Theatre family pantomime.
**** Four Stars
