Whitley Bay Pantomime Society can be relied
upon to present a lavish spectacle with its productions, and ‘Dick
Whittington’ was another winner, with a cast of nearly sixty, lavish
sets, and a wardrobe which must have run into the hundreds of costumes.
Many new faces were in evidence, and it was heartening that some of the
younger members of the cast had risen from the Saturday Stage School,
including Sophie Fairgrieve (Alice), Alex Chidambaram (Sultan) and Jamie
Moore, who took to the stage as to the manner born with his energy and
engaging personality, as Idle Jack. Ema Waites was ideally cast in the
title role, as was Amy Jensen who played Tommy the Cat lithely and
mischievously, and found her way into the hearts of the audience. David
Lindsell and Danny Patterson were 1st and 2nd Mates, and with their
verbal and physical humour ran rings around Steven Thompson, the Captain
of the ‘London Pride’. Steven Bell played the man-hunting Sarah the Cook
in numerous outrageous costumes, setting her sights on all the men in
turn, including David Swinton, a worthy Alderman Fitzwarren. John
Collins was suitably murderous as the evil King Rat and good was
represented by Naomi Johnson, as the Spirit of the Bells, looking every
inch the part of the ‘good fairy’, delivering her lines impeccably, and
dancing gracefully.The members of
the chorus acquitted themselves well with some rousing numbers, and the
dancers, Tots, Juniors, and Seniors, were charming, especially in the
Ballet of the Bells, the finale to the first act. The ‘under the sea’ UV
scene after the shipwreck was very well done, and the many scene changes
were effected smoothly, a tribute to the stage crew. Lighting was well
controlled and appropriate, and Ian Teoh and his small ensemble in the
pit provided excellent musical accompaniment. This was a pantomime in
the best traditions of the Society.
