Review of Addingham Pantomime Group’s version of Dick Whittington

Review of rehearsal performance, by Colin Waterman

During one of the wettest winters on record it was a delight to step into the Addingham Memorial Hall and watch the latest offering from the local Pantomime Group. Dick Whittington is this year’s show with the opening night being Friday February 12. It does all that a pantomime is meant to do in bringing together family members from across all the generations to enjoy music, comedy and dance. There are plenty of opportunities for audience participation at all the usual moments so everyone should go along expecting to get involved and make some noise.

The Addingham Pantomime Group has a well established track record of entertaining the locals. There are some familiar faces within the cast but they have also attracted a few new actors for principal roles. This helps to reinvigorate things a bit given each addition brings their own unique set of skills. Dame Dilly, David Barraclough, and Captain Cockle, Aaron Barrett Tetley, are particularly worthy of mention for their strong singing voices which are very much in evidence in the song “Sail Away” just before the interval.

The story of Dick Whittington and his cat – which incidentally is played rather well by the young actor Evie Enever - is given a faithful treatment in terms of pantomime world. The journey to becoming the Lord Mayor of London and securing the hand of the lovely Alice, Katie Jennings, is seldom easy with Queen Rat, Vickie Burns, and her trusty assistants, Vermina, Eleanor Ellis and Ratman, Jake Duxbury, doing their very best to reek havoc at every opportunity. However, Fairy Bowbells, Emma Turner, and some good fortune ensures that everything works out just fine in the end.

The real strength of this production is its ability to bring together such a large cast on a notoriously small stage and yet produce something that allows everyone to shine. From the very youngest chorus members to the seasoned, matured adults who have being doing this for years, everyone is enjoying what they do and it is infectious. So, step in from the rain this half term and enjoy a few hours of family entertainment with the Addingham Pantomime Group.

Show dates – February (7.30pm) and Saturday February 13 (1pm and 5pm); Wednesday February 17 to Friday February 19 (7.30pm) and Saturday Feb 20 (2pm and 7.30pm).

Tickets sales are going very well but some are still available from Jane Gregory on (01943) 831007.