REVIEW | Dick Whittington, Birmingham Hippodrome
Reviewer - Roni
January is a notoriously miserable month, and this soggy first week after the new year has been no exception. What better way to spend a Friday night then, than heading off to immerse yourself in all the joy of Pantoland? Dick Whittington opened at the Birmingham Hippodrome in December and has been thrilling audiences of all ages ever since. It’s easy to see why. Heading into a packed auditorium, it seems as though everyone is desperate for a much-needed boost at the start of the year.
In this reimagining of the classic tale, Dick arrives in Pantoland searching for fame, fortune and of course, romance. However, the town has been plagued by rats, led by the nefarious Rat Man, who threatens to take over and destroy everything, including the Olde Sweete Shoppe ran by Mrs Fitzwarren and her daughter Alice. Of course, the plot line is completely secondary to the endless stream of gags and slapstick that we’re all really here for, and boy does this show deliver.
It can be easy to forget exactly how magical panto can be year after year, but anticipation peaks as the show opens with a crash of thunder and menacing green light. Enter the wonderful Marti Pellow, playing his role as the villain to perfection with his army of (genuinely unsettling!) rats, followed up by the jaw-dropping unveiling of the King Rat. The animatronics and staging on display are honestly unbelievable, and the most incredible way to open a show. Colour me very, very impressed.
However, everyone is clearly waiting for the leading man himself, Mr Matt Slack. Matt has been a jewel in the Brum panto crown for many years, and this year he’s finally stepping into the shoes of a leading man, much to everyone’s delight. It’s rare to see someone who manages to give such a stellar comedic performance that caters to children and grownups alike, and Matt genuinely has the whole place crying with laughter. A combination of perfect timing and a hilarious script, a vast majority of which will (hopefully) go over the kid's heads (I lost count of the number of times people were off to find Dick), makes this a great one for a family theatre trip.
The supporting cast are just as brilliant and bounce off Matt’s infectious energy with ease. Andrew Ryan has everything you could want from a Dame, carrying the plot with a wonderfully camp energy, and Suzanne Shaw gives a sweet performance as Alice, Dick’s love interest for the show. Brum’s own Doreen Tipton stars as the lazy cat with a Black Country accent who goes down a storm with the younger members of the audience as she meanders around demanding a nap. Playing the Spirit of the Bells is the lovely Dr Ranj of CBeebies and This Morning fame, and whilst he captivates in his solo scenes, he really comes into his own when he’s sharing a stage with the leading man himself. Watching him and Matt go back and forth with each while trying (and failing) not to giggle is a real highlight. In fact, the best parts of the show are when the cast inevitably can’t hold back the laughs themselves and their own personalities shine through. Panto often feels like the type of theatre where you share an inevitable closeness to the stars on stage, and this majestic show is no different.
In summary, if you want guaranteed laughs for two hours, this is the show for you. Totally joyous, and a real cure for the January blues, I defy you to see this one and not leave the auditorium absolutely beaming. This is panto at its purest and finest, and it deserves all of the love and success it is seemingly enjoying.
Dick Whittington is performing at the Birmingham Hippodrome until 29 Jan 2023. Book your tickets today so you don’t miss it!
