Review: Dick Whittington, Scarborough Theatre

With no big names or special effects Tony Peers is renowned for presenting traditional pantomime as pantomime should be and Dick Whittington is no exception.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Dec 2015, 14:55 BST
Phil Beck in the Scarborough pantoPhil Beck in the Scarborough panto
Phil Beck in the Scarborough panto

It’s two hours of solid family magical entertainment filled with side-splitting humour and audience participation. There are colourful sets and sparkling costumes, you can hiss the baddie, cheer the goodies and shout until you are hoarse.

Peers has, however, taken a gamble with his cast this year and come up with a line-up of fresh faces new to the Spa. It’s a gamble that has certainly paid off creating a “dream team” of panto performers.

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Linda Newport’s production is slick, energetic and fast and has exactly the right balance of comedy, glamour and music. Heading up the comedy team are young,vibrant comedy duo Double Trouble as Captain and Mate, who handle their roles, a few custard pies and all the old panto gags with conviction and gusto. Phil Beck, as Sarah the Cook, has found his pantomime niche as dame. His cutting edge humour, irreverent repartee, great comedy timing and unbelievable outfits make him a front runner in the new generation of pantomime dames.

Stuart Metcalfe fits perfectly into the comedy jig-saw as the bumbling Ftizwarren and teamed with Beck they make a pair to be reckoned with. With a thigh-slapping Whittington (Rebecca Draper), a wistful and pretty-as-a-picture Alice (Ellie Carroll) , an evil King Rat (Dave Rustard) and a sparkling Bowbells (Sara Jade) this pantomime is not to be missed and is well worth travelling to see.

To January 1

Liz Coggins