DICK WHITTINGTON

Little Waltham Drama Group

13.01.08

Always a seasonal treat to travel to Little Waltham for their traditional village panto. And this Dick was one of the best of recent years.

Beautifully painted sets, a good band, two classic routines impeccably done, plus ripe rhyming couplets and reality TV, all directed by the sure hand of Susan Butler.

A strong cast was led by stalwarts Richard Butler and Gill Haysham. It was a pleasure to watch them work off each other and the volatile matinee house: the front-cloth banter leading up to A You're Adorable was pure magic.

Sable Corrie purred and preened inside a wonderful costume as Tommy; her foe King Rat was Mike Lee, also magnificently dressed as a rodent Goth. Steve Buscall blustered nicely as the Captain, with Andy Walker as his first mate.

Our level-headed, thigh-slapping hero was Sue Joyce, with Lisa Jones charming as Alice and the inimitable Glyn Jones as her father. And a special word for Karen Wray, promoted from follow-spot to Fairy at four days' notice.

I liked the running gags – throwing painful missiles into the wings – though we could have had more groanworthy jokes, and local references. The Weekly News did get a mention, as did sponsors the Rose and Crown, where we had an excellent Sunday lunch before the show. Though the service was a little slow - excellent home-made Yorkshire puds, though.