DeMontfort Hall Leicester – until 3 January 2026
Reviewed by Leanne W
3***
Starting with our good and evil leads introducing the show, this production then opens with a big number – a rewrite of ‘Welcome to the 60s’ (City) from Hairspray. With nearly the full cast on stage to set the scene. We are quickly introduced to the lead characters and the story set. Alderman Fitzwarren (Richie Anderson) has rats in the town and his shop and needs some help to remove them. Step up Dick Whittington (Jarred Christmas) and his cat Boots (Jack ‘Hobbit’ Hobbs).
The story doesn’t really evolve or develop. There is a suggestion that the niece of the Alderman, Alice (Rebecca Keatly) will fall in love with Dick, but it is lost, the relationship is never really suggested beyond the occasional coy exchange. Somewhere within the story is Fairy Bow Bells (Suzanne Shaw) and her enemy Queen Rat (Djalenga Scott) attempt to steer it in some direction but it doesn’t really begin or conclude. We see a whole dream scene for Bow Bells to suggest to Dick that he should become Mayor of London, but he didn’t – or at least I didn’t notice that he did. There are some good songs and dance numbers, but the story never really happens. I enjoyed the exchange between Bow Bells and Queen Rat making use of the film of the moment a rendition of ‘Loathing’. An adaptation of the Cell Block Tango provided Djalenga Scott an opportunity to showcase her vocal ability.
Richie Anderson is a newcomer to the world of panto and here on opening night it showed, perhaps as the run progresses, he will relax into the role and be able to land the jokes he has. The jokes for the entire production are amusing but fall short. Sarah The Cook (Jack Ballard) had many smutty jokes, but at times the actions to accompany them became a little too much and unnecessary.
Jarred Christmas does a suitable job of Whittington with some good jokes landing well but the character never really becomes a hero we root for. The absolute standout aspect of the performance is the casting of beat box artist Hobbit as Boots the Cat. He brings an entirely new slant to the role and completely lifts the performance – the only real talking point post show.
In all, its pantomime. It has all the ingredients and sparkle, it just lacks and story and soul.