Hi, back again with another panto review! This time I went to go see Dick Whittington at The Mercury Theatre in Colchester! I was especially looking forward to seeing this one as I had seen Aladdin there the previous year and that was brilliant!
For those who don’t know the story, Dick Whittington is of a young boy who tries to seek is fortune in the mad streets of London, there he meets a young girl called Alice who’s father owns a herb and spice shop. Looking for a job, Dick rushes to the shop and begs Alice’s father for a job. After this, things go a bit sour for Dick and his feline friend, so they are banished for all of London. After a mad adventure of twist and turns, they all end up back in London safe and sound!
Photo: Dick Whittington (Glenn Adamson) looking out into the distance singing!
Starring Glenn Adamson as Dick Whittington, Dale Supperville as Jack and Anthony Stuart-Hicks as Dame Sarah the Cook. This is an absolutely brilliant show! There was plenty of laughs and comedy throughout! Anthony Stuart-Hicks as the Dame was absolutely hilarious! The first time I saw him perform when he was in Aladdin last year. Tonight he completely stole the show, I sat there in stitches at times and just thinking to myself: “Please stop making me laugh for ten minutes so I can breathe!” I could easy sit there and just watch a show with just him for two hours! I was luckily enough to get the chance to meet him after the show, and he was telling me how he does the producing side of theatre for most of the year and only really preforms in shows at Christmas. Which personally I think is a real shame. Anthony if your reading this, honestly no words can describe how good your were, and you honestly deserve more praise than I can give you!
Photo: Sarah the Cook (Anthony Stuart-Hicks) and Jack (Dale Supperville) in the ships kitchen joking around with the audience.
This show as absolutely fantastic! Seriously people, after reading this review go and buy a ticket! This is a MUST SEE (capital letters) for sure this Christmas! I have seen a lot of shows and Pantomimes over the years I’ve been going to theatres and this is so easily in my Top 3 Pantos I’ve seen! Just please leave a couple for me as I will be going back to this again! The show is family friendly and is for children all ages, and the adults too will get a massive kick out for it!
Photo: Selfie of Me, Anthony Stuart-Hicks and PA Mandy after the show!
Their is a touch tour and Audio Described version of the show on Thursday 7th December, for those of you who are interested! I have ran out of words I can use to praise this, so I am going to stop writing cause their is nothing more I can say!
Well, Christmas is officially on the way which can only mean one thing…it’s Panto Season!! If you are a regular to this blog, you will know how much I love theatre! Therefore, this is my favourite time of the year!
Photo: Donna Souvlakia Sidbad (Graham Hent) and cast looking somewhat seasick!
Tonight I went to go and see Sinbad – The Rock and Roll Panto at The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich. The story is of a sailor called Sinbad who has travelled the seven seas and is said to have a wife in every port! When he returns to his home land, he happens to bump into the Caliph’s daughter Princess Pearl and she instantly falls in love with him. However her father forbids this and she stowaways on Sinbad’s ship The Saucy Sausage as he attempts to find the lost treasure of Nirvana.
Photo: Sinbad (Steve Rushton) with Jade and Princess Pearl in pirate disguises!
The starred Steve Rushton as Sidbad, Graham Hent as Dame Donna Souvlakia Sidbad and Dan De Cruz as Sinistro a magician. The musical numbers throughout the show were performed brilliantly, and had all the member of the audience (and yes, including me) clapping, laughing, cheering, booing and dancing at any chance they could. For an opening night, I don’t think the cast could have done it any better. As this was an Audio Described performance, there theatre offered me a audio headset, and that said that I would be the first member of the public to use their system, so I therefore have decided that I will be this private and tell them of my thoughts directly. However, please don’t take this as a negative, I am doing this for the benefit of the theatre.
Photo: The evil magician Sinistro in a very purple robe and hat looking very evilly happy with himself with green lightly and smoke in the background!
I think this is a show which is a Must-See this Christmas, and is a real fun and enjoyable night for all the family! The comedy is both hilarious for adults and children. There is not a dull moment, as all member of your family will thoroughly entertained. The show is running at The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and is running from 24th November until Saturday 28th January! So hey, why not go see it more than once! Link to the theatre website and information will be below.
The VI Critic 