DICK WHITTINGTON: Belgrade Coventry: Eaton, Kent, till 19 January

Coventry

DICK WHITTINGTON: Bob Eaton, Sayan Kent
Belgrade: Tkts 024 7655 3055
Runs: 3h, one interval, till 19 January
Review: Rod Dungate, 17 January 2002

The verve of the company ensures a very good time is had by all
It's loud, colourful, crammed with funny set-pieces, at times near-the-knuckle and over-all does what a pantomime is supposed to do. Lot's of chances for the young audiences to join in cheering, booing and telling characters what's behind them.

There are some great comic touches in the script by Bob Eaton (who directs) and Sayan Kent – I particularly liked King Rat's pad – the Sewer Club. King Rat, something of a randy rodent in this story, is played with great swagger and gusto by Fine Time Fontaine. I also liked Lynn Whitehead's Fairy Bow Bells, a Cockney Char replete with Feather Duster wand. Very matter of fact this magic business it seems.

The engine that drives any pantomime is, of course, the Dame. Andy Hockley rises energetically to the occasion as Sarah the Cook: Hockley is not a small man, and his Sarah is as large as she is larger than life. Should his performance get any larger he will surely split his frocks. But why not? Split 'em and be damned, I say.

Katy Stephens's Dick serves as a good balance to Hockley's Sarah. She is as lovely as Sarah is, well, lovely in a different way. With her Cat they ensure the story keeps more or less on course, and some super work from the Cat (Natalie Inglis or Stephanie Hughes). The cat is no pedigree model, rather a streetwise moggie.

Endearing himself to us all is Adam Shaw as Idle Jack. Massive energy, always on the go and an expressive face ensures he doesn't miss a trick. There's a very funny moment when he is forced to put his hands in his pockets and add five and five: he comes up with the answer eleven. (I'm not quite sure how the joke works but, then, I was awfully well brought up!)

I love all the standard bits of business in pantomime. In this one there's a terrific ghost routine performed to 'Ghost Busters'. I wanted it to go on longer.

As inconsequential as pantomimes should be the verve of the company ensures a very good time is had by all.

Cast
Idle Jack: Adam Shaw
Alderman Fitzwarren: Michael Royce
Alice Fitzwarren: Sayan Kent
Sultana of the South Seas: Natasha Springer
Fairy Bow Bells: Lynn Whitehead
Sarah the Cook: Andy Hockley
King Rat: Fine Time Fontaine

Director: Bob Eaton
Choreographer: Beverley Edmunds
Musical Director: Nick Lacey
Design: Sue Condie
Lighting: David Howe
Sound: Steve Wilson

2002-01-17 20:15:56