Review: Dick Whittington – from the Dennis Lowe Theatre Company

Dick Whiitington and Tom, his cat, arrive in London, but they smell a rat. Evil King Rat is his name… He plots to make sure Dick gets the blame, when jewels are planted in his sack and Dick leaves town, but some friends have his back.

The hardworking members of the Dennis Lowe Theatre Company have created this season’s panto based on the legend of Dick Whittington, who it was said became the Lord Mayor of London three times. Even before the curtain rises, the audience become aware of an evil looking character positioned top right, beside the stage. As the show opens, we are told that this is Evil King Rat – who converses in rhyme, and informs us all of his nasty plan to plot the downfall of Dick Whittington and his cat, Tom. In order to get rid of country boy Dick, King Rat blackmails a character named Captain to help him. Captain looks like he has stepped straight out of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and doesn’t want to lose his life, so agrees to assist the rat. Dick, who is new to London Town, and almost penniless, as the streets are not paved with gold as he was led to believe, secures a job in a store owned by the wealthy alderman, Mr Fitzwarren. Dick quickly becomes smitten with Fitzwarren’s attractive daughter, Alice, and eventually overcomes his shyness to ask her out. King Rat and the Captain are the ones the audience boo and hiss, whilst the fairy, Bow Belle, is the character the audience cheer and applaud. Having waved her sparkly magic wand, she has allowed Tom the cat to talk to the audience, unbeknown to Dick and the others. She also speaks in rhyme, like a true East Ender, and is the doppelganger of Gemma Collins, but… as the fairy herself says, she was the original BB, long before GC came along! Comic timing, and the act of looking ridiculous, comes in the form of pantomime dame, Fanny Trollope and her adopted daughter, Falafel. They create both a sweet and humorous section, where they chat to some children who have ‘won’ a golden ticket and are invited up on the stage. Along with the beautiful costumes and scenery, the dancers should be credited for their performances. The tiny tot dancers provide the ‘Ahhh’ factor, whilst the young female dancers bring glamour to the show. Don’t miss this show of family fun and joy…it’s on till January 5th 2020.

Reviewed by Gill Atacocugu