Dick Whittington and His Cat, which is written by Anthony Spargo and directed by James Haddrell, is this year's choice of pantomime at the Greenwich Theatre and promises a delightful, chaotic evening of family friendly fun.
Young Richard (Dick) Whittington and his talking cat Tommie move to London from Gloucester, with hopes of finding friends and good fortune, believing the streets are "paved with gold". Dick and Tommie meet Alice and are hired at Meggs, the bakery where Alice works. However, the evil King Rat intends to take over London town, with the help of his right hand man (rat) Muffy and his minions. King Rat frames Dick in an attempt to rid himself of Tommie the cat, a supreme Rat chaser. Dick, Tommie and Alice set out to change fate, and clear Dick's name, although this becomes increasingly complicated with the arrival of a time machine.
The only glaring issue with this production of Dick Whittington and His Cat is that it never quite addresses being a pantomime. Despite being Greenwich Theatre's chosen pantomime of the year, the show unfolds as a children's show, rather than a festive pantomime. Spargo opts not to include any of the usual pantomime moments, such as "they're behind you", or "Oh yes it is!", and even playfully tells the audience to "pace themselves" when being boo-ed. The audience, admittedly don't quite follow, resulting in a few moments of adult hecklers that the performers manage to ignore and continue with the performance. The audience do taken it upon themselves to loudly boo King Rat and cheer for Dick Whittington, and have a delightful time regardless. Whilst it's refreshing to see the show lean into the typical pantomime gags without pandering to the audience, it does leave one feeling unsure what to make of the show.
Other than this, the show works remarkably well, with a heavy doses of comedy, musical numbers, witty dialogue, a bizarrely fascinating concept, colourful sets, fantastic costumes and a very talented cast. The show takes jabs at the state of London and londoners, making the play feel relatable and homely to the audience.
Sam Bailey's Dick Whittington is at the heart of the show, with his constant positivity and charm. Bailey is brimming with enthusiasm and optimism, providing the audience with a character they'll be rooting for throughout the show. Incredibly smiley, Bailey shines on stage and his earnest portrayal helps cement the show together. Bailey's irresistible charm is a credit to the production, placing Dick as the emotional anchor of the show.
Jasmine Jules Andrews as Alice is a quiet but pleasant surprise, enriching Alice with a real sense of complexity and strong character. Vocally, Andrews is particularly gifted, and is a performer to keep an eye out for. Inès Ruiz as Tommie the cat has a natural talent for comedy, which ensures audiences are laughing throughout the show. Ruiz's charm and softer moments are well countered by her fierce protectiveness, making Tommie a particularly fun character to watch. Additionally, Ruiz brings her musical talent to the show, performing a number of instruments.
Louise Cielecki threatens to steal the spotlight from Spargo's King Rat as Muffy Rat. Extraordinarily enthusiastic, Cielecki ramps up the audience energy throughout the play, going all out and delivering a fantastic performance. Phil Yarrow as Meggs the Baker is another wonderful addition to the cast. A warm, kind-hearted and jovial Meggs, along with their fabulous costumes, create a constant state of excitement every time they're on stage. Paul Kemble as Alderman Fitzwarren isn't given much dynamic stage time, but does well in a duo with Yarrow, leading to a sweet relationship amidst the chaos.
Spargo delivers a winning performance as King Rat. Iconic in his style, performance and pizazz, Spargo is understandably and rightfully a beloved pantomime regular at the Greenwich Theatre. Spargo's devious character is sweetly and amusingly contrasted with the actor corpsing at his own jokes. These moments induce more laughter, as the performers and audiences take delight in the material at hand.
The stage features a revolve, making the scene transitions between the three sets easier. Emily Bestow (set and costume designer) has created a colourful Pudding Lane with references to local stores. With functional doors, this main set undergoes its own couple of transformations with the help of a time machine. The interior of Megg's Bakery is well decorated, even featuring a foil covered air fryer. The sets feel animated, as though a large scale children's book, and this is a credit to Bestow. The costumes, particularly Tommie the cat, Meggs and King Rat, are also impressive to behold.
The sound and lighting (Liam McDermott and Henry Slater) add to the show, particularly with themes often associated with pantomimes, adding in visual and audio gags. Scenes with the time travel and the resulting altered reality, are particularly benefited.
The musical numbers are often well known songs, with altered lyrics that help slide them right into the story. Amusingly, the show includes this year's summer choice song Sabrina Carpenter's Please Please Please. Bailey and Andrews are well matched and make a compelling duo, with a range of duets. Musical Direction is by (Uncle) Steve Markwick, who is also on keys and bass. Joining him are Gordan Parrish on guitar and Chris Wyles on drums.
Dick Whittington and His Cat is a classic pantomime story, with a fun touch of tongue in cheek humour and music in this revival by Anthony Spargo. Although differing from that of a classic pantomime, it is still a show that will entertain and delight audiences, adults and children alike.
Dick Whittington and His Cat is playing at the Greenwich Theatre until 5th January.
★★★★☆ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Danny Kaaan
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