Dick Whittington and his Cat is a raucous rock n’ roll pantomime lifted by the dynamism and vitality of its cast
Written by Vikki Stone and directed by Douglas Rintoul, the show modernises the traditional story of Dick Whittington travelling to London to seek his fortune with added rock/pop musical numbers.
Luke Thornton flourished as the titular character, giving curiosity, charm, and warmth to the role. Max Kinder was equally bawdy, exuberant and grating as Sarah the Dame, Alice’s bawdy mother. Elizabeth Rowe was sweet and kind as Alice, as well as headstrong and steady. However, Steve Simmonds was a standout as the villainous King Rat, playing the role with mischievous glee. His rendition of “Gangsta’s Paradise” was an absolute side-splitting triumph. Myles Miller effortlessly shone as Dick’s feline companion. He had great physical comedy skills and made the most of the pantomime’s slapstick humour.
While energetically performed with funny moments, the script felt a bit uneven. The mix of traditional panto jokes, modern pop culture references, and rock music numbers wasn’t always seamless. Some scenes dragged on for too long, like the beginning of Act 2 involving the audience and the introduction of a new character, while others felt rushed, like the eventual argument between the Cat and Dick. This momentary but significant conflict could’ve raised the stakes and the tension for the audience but instead was resolved almost immediately. Overall, tighter pacing and more polish in the writing would have benefited the show.
The costumes by Emily Bestow were gorgeous, quirky and vibrant with colour, setting the goodies apart from the dark and grungy rats. The costumes added to the joyful, upbeat atmosphere of Dick Whittington and His Cat and provided an extra layer of characterisation, letting us know even more about each character.
I loved seeing the actor-musicians play instruments on each side of the stage when not directly acting in the scene. I admired this unique element of the pantomime and it gave me a greater appreciation for the performers’ talent and versatility. Apart from this, the set design did disappoint me and reminded me of Fruit Salad sweets. It didn’t show changes in time or location well, which temporarily made me miss the painted backdrops that traditional pantomimes use purely for clarity. I also thought the scenery could’ve been a lot more festive and evocative of the London setting.
In the end, while not the strongest pantomime production, Dick Whittington and his Cat provided lighthearted holiday entertainment with enjoyable performances and energy. For those seeking some holiday silliness, the New Wolsey Theatre production delivers a decent dose of slapstick comedy and brilliant live music.