Review: DICK WHITTINGTON, Richmond Theatre
Photo credit: Craig Sugden
The wonderful Frank Matcham designed the Victorian Richmond Theatre with an inspiring message across the proscenium of “To wake the sole by tender strokes of Art”. It is a splendid venue to take a child to their first live show and there can be no better introductory show than their annual pantomime. This year, they stage a short sharp version of Dick Whittington with a running time of less than two hours including interval so the very young will not have too long to sit still. Older children and their parents will enjoy the performances of the two stars of the show, Paul Merton and his wife Suki Webster as Sarah the Cook and Suki the sweet maker respectively. Together, they have a great deal of experience in improvisation shows and that skill underpins their performances in pantomime. Merton made his debut as a Dame last year in Wimbledon and must have enjoyed it so much that he persuaded his wife to join him this year in her pantomime debut.
Their offstage relationship and TV appearances on Have I Got News For You and in Motorhoming are constantly referred to and add to the fun but their comic timing and audience engagement skills are essential for pantomime, allowing them to effortlessly deliver the traditional material and occasionally ad lib. Merton’s opening monologue is superbly delivered although perhaps the claim that it is “all new lines” is exaggerated, especially in a very old Mastermind routine which ends with the Shizu gag. However, when he works with Suki on the “Dad did” tongue twister and then on the brilliant ‘Mr Who, Mr What and Mr Idontknow’ sketch, the combination shines although Suki looked like she needed to concentrate hard to make sure she responded exactly to Merton’s lines as if he might improvise at any point! They have fun with an Elvis parody with Merton adding the “Woo Woos“ in the gap, to Suki’s frustrated verses and offer a rather lame version of the fight practice involving a member of the audience kissing him better. If anything, the audience was left wanting more of their business together and the opportunity for a ooking sketch and a sweet based pun run is missed and would have flowed from the setup of the Fitzwarren’s sweet shop. At least when they presented that other staple of pantomime ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, the props had been updated to fit the story, a simple but effective adjustment, which freshens up the routine with - for example - five sea sponges. The ending of the song is also given a fresh look that Suki delivers extremely well. His “the show so far” recap in Act 2 in the style of ‘Just a minute’ is best when he does deviate but it is another classic bit of pantomime business given the Merton treatment.
Though the show is dominated by the partnership, there is good support from Vivien Parry as Queen Rat and Wendy Mae Brown as the Spirit of Bow Bells in the traditional evil and good roles, and a good relationship between Jack Danson as Dick Whittington and Erin Sophie Halliday in her professional debut as Alice Fitzwarren, at its best in a reworked ‘Flash Bang Wallop’ dance routine. If there is one song that is defining this year’s pantomime season, it is Dua Lipa’s ‘I Can Dance’ from Barbie, here sung by Dick and Alice and repeated to close the show. Charlie Smart plays a silent Eileen, the cat who could have made more of the call to ‘Come On Eileen’ but moves with an acrobatic elegance. Alan McHugh’s script retains just enough of the traditional Dick Whittington plot while leaving plenty of space for the comedy business, and you have a sense that Merton has added most of the best gags to give it a personalised fresh feel.
This is an excellent show with a joyous feel and sense of originality from Merton and Webster, even when they are delivering well proven material and it sits perfectly on the lovely Richmond stage. It awakens the soul, brings a smile to every face, and leaves you wanting more while staying true to the basic story. The sense that Merton might deviate from the script at any time adds to the fun and indeed makes you think that a second visit is worthwhile!
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne
Dick Whittington plays at Richmond Theatre until 7 January 2024, with tickets available here.