Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Sunday 14 January 2024
Reviewed by Louise Ford
4****
What’s that you say, a new Dick in town?
The innuendos come thick and fast in the first act. Sadly Dick, we aren’t better than that!
This year’s panto is Dick Whittington written by Alan McHugh with additional material by Matt Slack, although the ad-libs and side comments are all from the cast. The loveable cockney chappie Alfie Moon takes a break from Eastenders to grace the Nottingham stage, although he is soon to be transported back to London in search of the streets paved with gold. Shane Ritchie takes on the central role as Dick Whittington with huge amounts of energy and fun. The accidents and mishaps are brilliantly scripted and have the audience laughing and worrying in equal measure. Keep away from that trap door!
There’s some good role reversals with Anne Smith playing Queen Rat, with her whip lash tail and horde of nasty rodents. She’s looking to take over the city and the world. The Spirit of Bow Bells is played by Dr Ranj all glitter and sparkle, watching over our hero and ensuring he doesn’t come to any real harm.
The love interest, Alice Fitzwarren (Emily Beth Harrington) is light and lovely ,just like a Disney princess, although she’s a dab hand with a sword if needed. Her father, I mean her mother, Sarah the Cook is played by Iain Stuart Robertson. She has an eye for a young man and an extravagant outfit.
Although his coat is a little tatty, Kitty Cat (Kenan-Lewis Smith) performs some amazing springs and bounces and has a great stage presence. His makeup is top notch.
The ensemble perform a range of excellent dances in some pretty tricky headgear.
The story whips along at quite a pace with all the requisite elements for a good panto. The tongue twister keeps both Dick and Sarah on their toes . A big shout out to Pauline from Papplewick. The twelve days of “what I found at the bottom of the sea”, has the audience ducking for cover! And the children up on stage is always good fun and could go wrong at any moment.
I won’t spoil the surprise but there are a couple of special effects which have a great impact of the audience. The first is a little frightening and had some of the younger audience in tears. The second had the audience in the stalls ducking out of the way.
All in all it’s big, bold and brash, and a great way to celebrate this festive time.