Magic formula continues with all the laughs, music and slapstick
DICK WHITTINGTON AT LICHFIELD GARRICK
WHEN you have a winning recipe you would be wrong to mess with the formula – thankfully, the Lichfield Garrick hasn’t meddled with its magic pantomime mix.
The superb double-act of Sam Rabone and Ben Thornton has returned for the third consecutive year and the chemistry between the pair is electric.
The offering at the Garrick this year is Dick Whittington and co-producers Paul Hendy and Emily Wood have brought the story right up-to-date with tasteful music and current themes including Brexit and “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here”.
Musical numbers range from re-arrangements of tunes from the Greatest Showman through to George Ezra and the Village People.
Other thrills include the latest 3D technology which is used for the underwater scenes in the second act and pyrotechnics used for the entrance of Fairy Bowbells played by CBeebies actress Katrina Bryan.
The slapstick double-act comedy between Sam Rabone, who plays “Dolly the Cook” and Ben Thornton who plays “Billy” is definitely the icing on the cake with this pantomime.
Their antics on board the ship Boaty McBoatFace leaves you wondering how the pair survive without broken bones and bruises while their comedic genius is showcased in 44 consecutive jokes centred around confectionery.
The Boaty McBoatFace scene is this year’s animatronic offering featuring the pantomime staple of water and lots of shaving foam.
This scene is guaranteed to leave you hurting with laughter and having seen Rabone and Thornton in past pantos, I’d say this is their best and funniest moment to date.
As with all pantomimes there is always a villain and playing the part with great vigour and enthusiasm is television and stage actress Joanne Heywood as “Queen Rat”.
While the comedic genius of this pantomime is worth a thousand words, credit must also go to the impeccable performance of both Ashley Emerson as Dick Whittington and of Beccy Lane playing Dick Whittington’s love interest Alice Fitzwarren.
Although their roles are more serious than the laugh-out-loud comedy of other cast members, you can never rule anything out in pantomime.
For example, an audience suggestion that Tommy the Cat should be changed to Gertrude the Cat was taken on board. Words and songs were changed accordingly to suit the change adding to the overall comedic effect and causing plenty of laughs and giggles on stage. Dick Whittington at Lichfield runs until January 5 and is certainly worth catching as you won’t be disappointed.
Knowledge that Sam Rabone is already cast in next year’s offering of Cinderella which has me marking down the dates in my diary already.
Tickets are available via the website at www.lichfieldgarrick.com/ whats-on/all-shows/dickwhittington/130 or by calling 01543 412121.