DICK WHITTINGTON PANTO AT THE ARTS THEATRE
Matt Crosby as Sarah and Adrian Grove as Fitzwarren
Before we surged into the packed auditorium at the Arts Theatre for the opening Gala night of the panto, I had been trying to explain to a lively and very bright Polish girl what the traditional Christmas show was all about. I saw her eyes widen when she realised she was part of the performance, required to cheer “Really?” Sigh (at any romantic bits), Shout quite a lot - and most of all Boo every time the villain made an appearance. Frankly it sounded quite mad. I saw her sweep a puzzled glance around the people of all ages, as they bubbled with excitement and bounced in anticipation . “Are you sure?’ She enquired politely, I was sure.
Luke Baker as Dick Whittington sans cat photograph by Hubert Smith
Pantomime. There is nothing quite like it in the entire world of entertainment. Every year a surprise and also so predictable, an entertainment to rely on in a changing world.
This year’s DIck Whittington has all the razzmatazz the Cambridge Arts can throw at it. Fairy Bowbelle with a poised and glamorous Mandi Symonds in an amazingly extravagant fairy costume, promised a tale of derring-do, to deliver poor London Town of its plague of rats. We were sure of the outcome of course, but its adventure was still to come. We would follow Dick through humiliation, failure, love denied and then on a voyage to exotic lands and success.
Ruby Ablettt as Alice and Ensemble photograph by Richard Hubert-Smith
The creative Team for this year’s pantomime triumphed with a delightful musical ensemble and plenty of contemporary songs. The band itself featured an interesting line-up with guitar, drums percussion and some lovely brass interludes. With a break from the super preditable, here were numbers more like a West End musical than an ordinary panto. Musical Director Dean McDermott struck out far away from more mawkish songs for some very accomplished singing and subtle instrumentation. The choreography of the show was as exceptional. A super gorgeous ensemble danced with enviable precision - their sequences as sailors against a stunning dockside naval set gave lift to the change of scene from London Town to the merry maritime farewell - this group of dancers enlivened every scene to enhance an already polished production .
Rolan Bell as King Rat and his accomplices , photograph by Richard Hubert Smith
But back to the story. Alderman Fitzwarren is an ambitious candidate for Mayor of London. Adrian Grove played the part with a suave charm blended with a goofy persona , whilst his daughter Alice - Ruby Ablett laid on some snappy lines to keep the comedic temperature up. Luke Baker was a charming Dick Whittington with a fabulously powerful voice - more than up to the big songs he had to belt out - even as things were going pretty badly for our hero - and his energetic cat Tommy, played by a balletic Charlie Cameron- feline and funny.
Matt Crosby as Sarah the Cook, photograph by Richard Hubert Smith
The villain - always a favourite in panto was King Rat. A dashing sexy baritone Rolan Bell conjured a level of East End gangster menace. His songs were tremendous performances - and his stage presence remarkable - scary but destined for disaster along with his athletic rat accomplices. The star of the show was again Matt Crosby as Sarah the Cook. She had so many great lines (I loved her routine with a special Fountain pen “Stinking thing , take it away Camilla”) and her discovery of the corgis tied to a lampost outside Pizza Express. Her singing voice is brilliant, Nine to Five went like a bomb with fabulous dance back up and it was all the way up from there. I forgot to explain to my young visitor that Panto is full of political gibes, smut, double entendre and a certain low cunning that can entertain the adults whist the children still stay enthralled.Matt is a master of those.
Nichole Bird as Silly Billie photograph Richard Hubert Smith
Nichole Bird as the gormless Silly Billie provoked excited indignation from the children - whilst the audience lapped up the naughty hilarity. Full of vim and zest she had audience participation in spades,
Adrian Grove , now as the Sultan Vinegar , along with versatile ensemble
Panto is strange, unique and outrageous. The Cambridge Arts version is back with bang and set to run at high tempo through the entire season. Colourful, noisy it celebrates the exuberance of theatre - yet keeps its traditional tropes wonderfully well. As Producer and Arts Theatre CEO Dave Murphy reminded us this production plays to thousands of children for free, His wish is to inspire young people with a fascination for theatre that will lead them into the performing arts from whatever background they come from. Good luck one and all, and well done.
Fairy Bowbells - Mandi Symonds wishes the whole cast a wonderful run.
