Review: Dick Whittington (and his Meerkat), York Theatre Royal

One of the most endearing things about the annual pantomime at York’s Theatre Royal has been its total refusal to defy any sort of rational logic. This season, this is lifted to an almost surreal level by the show not being in the city’s ancient theatre, but in the National Railway Museum.
Berwick Kaler and cast of Dick WhittingtonBerwick Kaler and cast of Dick Whittington
Berwick Kaler and cast of Dick Whittington

The reason is pretty simple. The Royal closed earlier in 2015 so that it could be renovated and with archaeological work ongoing, its reopening has been deferred to the spring. It means dame Berwick Kaler and his happy band of pranksters find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, but the show remains almost entirely intact.

There are no facilities to offer sets flying in and out, and entrances are limited, but Kaler and co-director Damian Cruden rise to a huge challenge. Sets are trucked in and out. The performers leap gaps. But it all appears so smooth, but at the same time such a lot of energetic fun. Kaler’s regular accomplices return. There’s Suzy Cooper (whose legs go all the way up to her grin) as the lass who might possibly be the daughter of the Lord Mayor of London, played (sometimes) by Martin Barrass, And there is the sublime David Leonard, as the archetype of evil, Herman Vermin, all tail, teeth and tights. Also worth a mention is AJ Powell as the meerkat, Mr. Pernickety (in a dashing costume by Mark Walters) and Jack Lansbury, who is a member of the chorus, but who rises to being a foil to many of Kaler’s gags.

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Rolling out names to credit those involved with the production would take up far too much space. So let’s just observe that the Royal team grab all the opportunities offered, defy the adversity of limitations, and then deliver their usual mind-boggling extravaganza of marvellous merriment. It is rib-achingly funny. It looks as if it is being made up as it goes along. But, underneath this saucy swan of a show, there are many legs paddling along furiously to keep it on track and on time.

This year’s Royal show is a triumph of engineering and of enterprise. An unrivalled seasonal tonic.

To Jan 24.

PHIL PENFOLD

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