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Review by a member of the audience: PHOTOS
WINFRITH'S DICK WHITTINGTON IS A WARMING WINTER TONIC
The Winfrith winter was brightened by the magic of pantomime from 3rd to 5th December. Winfrith Drama Group provided a seriously excellent production of Dick Whittington that delighted full houses at all four performances. Mike Brook's script was well above the usual standard fare, filled with great comedy moments and always keeping the traditional story flowing. The cast included many strong characterisations.
In the title role, Rosie Chandler looked gorgeous and delivered her role confidently, every inch the perfect principal boy. Opposite her, an even younger Alice, 13 year old Fern Pritchard, spoke and sang with promising assurance.
There were consistently funny and hard to fault performances from the two key comic characters. Kirsty Paul encaptured the character of Idle Jack delightfully from the start. Gary Chilvers was equally likeable and well cast as the Mayor's energetic cook Sarah Suet-Pudding, and established a great relationship with the audience.
Dick's Cat, Tabitha, was a feisty feline companion; Alice Elgar knew her part and was "miaouw perfect" and benefited like the other animals from excellently applied make-up.
The scenes with Cap'n Hand and Mr Mate (Chris Pullen and Wendy Jones) worked well as these two hearty seadogs drew out every ounce of humour from the script. Chris even produced a second stereotypical accent and persona when a late plot twist revealed him also to be a fully trained air pilot. Making up the crew were the amusing Salty Sam (Kate Pope) and bo'sun Roger (James Rodgers).
Chief villain King Rat was played with skill and relish by James Langfield, supported well by Abbie Maynard and Danny Allen.
Anthony Thorpe brought appropriate dignity to the office of Lord Mayor, even when revealing a secret passion for Carol Vorderman. Also outstanding was Emiel Jones as the outrageous and flirtatious Antonio Macaroni, an Italian despot who was for some reason running a Caribbean island.
Tommy the Cockney (Jill Maynard) introduced and concluded proceedings in faultless verse, and there were other well handled cameos from some members of a strong Chorus.
Hard graft and expertise had obviously gone into the costumes, set and effects. There were lots of musical numbers with something for everyone, including Nat King Cole’s ballad Around The World and songs from Oliver, Joseph and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In a most welcome innovation, girls and boys from Dorchester Ballet and Dance Club joined the show, and were kept busy in a range of great costumes and routines that added an extra dimension to the whole production. Long may this association continue.
Congratulations to Carole Redhouse and Emma Hill, who jointly produced the show and choreographed the cast. All in all a show which proved local panto can be both traditional and high quality. Roll on next winter!
JANET KILGALLON
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