REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Dick Whittington
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch
Billet Lane
Hornchurch
RM11 1QT
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Dick Whittington
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch
Billet Lane
Hornchurch
RM11 1QT
If you want a great family night out, gather your children and grandchildren and head for the Dick Whittington pantomime at the Queen’s Theatre. There will be lots of laughter and fun as the multi-talented cast entertain you.
The hilarious show doesn’t resemble the standard Dick Whittington story. Dick (Michali Dantes) finds himself making flans in his love interest’s Cherry Bakewell’s bakery. This is sabotaged by Verminia, the Queen Rat. Laura Sillett as the Queen gives an excellent performance as the baddie being booed at every opportunity. Wearing a Lurex trouser suit, she belts out songs, and when not up to no good, chucking a spanner in the works, she's rocking a funky saxophone, or playing a flute. Indeed, all of the relatively small cast double up on various instruments with clever songs and music by Tom Self, as they sing, and play live with gusto.
Of course, no pantomime is complete without the Dame and this one is no exception. Sherrie Trifle (Dominic Gee-Burch) struts around the stage, insulting the audience, cracking jokes and wearing outlandish outfits, whilst causing mayhem.
Just as you would expect there are squirty pie fillings and funny scenes with animal balloons.
As the story progresses, they head off on an adventure, in an air balloon to take flans to France via the Isle of Man. Why? Because in this panto Dick’s cat is a Manx called Meowly Cyrus, and is without a tail. They want to replace it in a retail shop, get it. As the cat, scaring off the rats Priscille Grace entertains us with songs as she prowls round the stage.
However, for some reason the trusty band end up in the Island of Las Vegas and guess who is there. The King himself, cue jokes about Elvis, his song titles and a rock and roll number.
Elliot Mackenzie, who doubles as Bowbells the cockney geezer narrator, also plays Elvis. He spends most of the time dressed as a costermonger/ Pearly King when not in his Elvis white suit. As a finale, by some miracle, Dick Whittington becomes Lord Mayor of London, as you do.
If all this sounds bonkers, it is. However, the children loved it, joining in at every opportunity. There was even a ‘look behind you’ moment with a lizard, much to their enjoyment. Even the mums and dads got involved singing Sherrie’s singalong Trifle song.
This show was a combination of panto, musicals and the kids show Play School. Unlike some of the pantos nowadays, there was no smut and only a few political jokes. The full house loved it, even the adults were laughing. The audience waved laser lights and spinners and the whole experience was just like an outing at Butlins.
If you want an enjoyable evening, join plucky Dick Whittington and his cat minus a tale as they head for London, via a very strange route.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The hilarious show doesn’t resemble the standard Dick Whittington story. Dick (Michali Dantes) finds himself making flans in his love interest’s Cherry Bakewell’s bakery. This is sabotaged by Verminia, the Queen Rat. Laura Sillett as the Queen gives an excellent performance as the baddie being booed at every opportunity. Wearing a Lurex trouser suit, she belts out songs, and when not up to no good, chucking a spanner in the works, she's rocking a funky saxophone, or playing a flute. Indeed, all of the relatively small cast double up on various instruments with clever songs and music by Tom Self, as they sing, and play live with gusto.
Of course, no pantomime is complete without the Dame and this one is no exception. Sherrie Trifle (Dominic Gee-Burch) struts around the stage, insulting the audience, cracking jokes and wearing outlandish outfits, whilst causing mayhem.
Just as you would expect there are squirty pie fillings and funny scenes with animal balloons.
As the story progresses, they head off on an adventure, in an air balloon to take flans to France via the Isle of Man. Why? Because in this panto Dick’s cat is a Manx called Meowly Cyrus, and is without a tail. They want to replace it in a retail shop, get it. As the cat, scaring off the rats Priscille Grace entertains us with songs as she prowls round the stage.
However, for some reason the trusty band end up in the Island of Las Vegas and guess who is there. The King himself, cue jokes about Elvis, his song titles and a rock and roll number.
Elliot Mackenzie, who doubles as Bowbells the cockney geezer narrator, also plays Elvis. He spends most of the time dressed as a costermonger/ Pearly King when not in his Elvis white suit. As a finale, by some miracle, Dick Whittington becomes Lord Mayor of London, as you do.
If all this sounds bonkers, it is. However, the children loved it, joining in at every opportunity. There was even a ‘look behind you’ moment with a lizard, much to their enjoyment. Even the mums and dads got involved singing Sherrie’s singalong Trifle song.
This show was a combination of panto, musicals and the kids show Play School. Unlike some of the pantos nowadays, there was no smut and only a few political jokes. The full house loved it, even the adults were laughing. The audience waved laser lights and spinners and the whole experience was just like an outing at Butlins.
If you want an enjoyable evening, join plucky Dick Whittington and his cat minus a tale as they head for London, via a very strange route.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The show continues:-
23 Nov - 31 Dec 2023
Prices
Blue - £13* | £18* | £20.50*
Green - £20.50* | £24.50* | £27.50* | child price available
Red - £23.50* | £28* | £31.50* | child price available
Gold - £24.50* | £28.50* | £33*
Platinum - £26.50* | £30.50* | £34.50*
Age 2 and under can sit on a lap and do not require a ticket
Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult
+65p QNext fee
Running Time -140 minutes
Call 01708 443333 or email [email protected]