Review: Twists and turns in fun filled panto to delight the audience

DICK WHITTINGTON, HAVERHILL ARTS CENTRE, UNTIL DECEMBER 24

A rascally rat and a fantastic feline plus a comic cook and a fearless fairy … just some of the characters that come together in a wonderful family pantomime at the Haverhill Arts Centre.

Dick Whittington is the perfect way to kick off Christmas and is full of fun and frolics, boos, hisses and cheers.

Mix in the added audience participation, the quick fire wit and the well known songs it all adds up to 100 minutes of sheer delight.

Leading the cast is former ITV’s Coronation Street star Scott Wright as the perfect villain of the peace King Rat whose dastardly deeds gets the required response from those watching on from their seats.

The “rat bag”, as he is called by Fairy Bowbells played by Samantha Dodd, gets his rat pack to make a misery of Alderman Fitzwarren’s (David Learner) life and threaten his business.

But along comes a saviour in Dick Whittington (Sinead Mathias-Medeiros) who leaves his Suffolk home to make his way to London to seek his fortune, meeting up and befriending Tommy the cat who helps to rid the vermin and send them packing.

However, there’s many a twist and turn in this tale, oh yes there is!

From the comedy pairing of the work shy Idle Jack (Aaron Blackburn) who falls straight off to sleep with any mention of the word “work” and panto dame Sarah the cook (Michael Heslop) whose quick fire comic lines keep the fun flowing.

Love conquers all, as the saying goes, and that’s supplied by Katy Cocks as Alice Fitzwarren who, needles to say, gets struck with the love bug with Jack.

It’s typical purr-fect panto pleasure with the star cast stepping up to provide the thrills and spills with their slick dialogue and brilliant vocals.

Look out for the fearsome and stealthy Gruffalo who makes an appearance on a deserted desert island while there’s musical mastery from the duo of musical director Joseph Hall and drummer Josh Jenkins.

It’s the town’s first homegrown pantomime for many years and is written and directed by Dan Schumann, Haverhill Arts Centre’s creative director, with set design by Trio Entertainment.

The cast is supported by a professional dance ensemble and talented local children from the Lisa Mason School of Dance.

Dick Whittington plays at Haverhill Arts Centre until December 24 with performances daily. 

Tickets are priced from £16 and can be booked at haverhillartscentre.co.uk or by calling the booking office on 01440 714140.