Dick Whittington By Alan McHugh. Additional material by Paul Merton. Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond, TW9 1QJ to 07 January, 2024.

4****: William Russell.

“Paul Merton is a magnificent dame in a first rate pantomime.”

Have I got news for you -there are two good reasons for seeing this splendid pantomime which kind of tells the story about the boy with the cat who became Lord Mayor of London - Paul Merton, who plays Sarah the Cook, Suki Webster who plays a hitherto unknown character called Suki the Sweetmaker. It is Merton’s second outing as the dame, her first appearance in pantomime and their partnership is heaven sent – she is, incidentally, Mrs Merton. Directed by Jonathon O’Boyle it has brightly coloured sets which could be used for pretty well any pantomime plot, a winsome Dick in Jack Danson who has the legs for a principal boy, and an impressive Queen Rat for villain played by Vivien Parry matched by an equally impressive Wendy Mae Brown as the obligatory fairy here called The Spirit of Bow Bells. In the story we know she told Dick to turn again but all that goes by the board – there is no Alderman Fitzwarren to employ Sarah and be father to Alice, played by Erin Sophie Halliday in her professional debut. London is in danger of being swamped by rats – actually pantomime casts have tiny ensembles these days so there are only half a dozen on stage at any one time and the same goes for the citizens of London- and Dick and his cat must save the town starting with Suki’s sweet shop. The costumes are gorgeous, Sarah’s appropriately outrageous, and there is also a fine band in the pit although it does seem to be able only to play fortissimo which presents Dick and Alice with something of a problem as they get the romantic ballads to sing. None of that matters although the detour to the bottom of the sea when the ship they have all sailed on to somewhere or other gets wrecked is a particularly bizarre piece of staging. What matters is Merton who can handle an audience perfectly – he has been doing it for years - and whose cross talk routines with Webster are hilarious.

The jokes are good, the routine about the dachshund a double Dutch delight, and when they join Dick and Bow Bells for the Twelve Days of Christmas sung at the bottom of the sea the foursome brought the house down.

This is what pantomime should be – packed with audience participation, all the traditional he’s behind you stuff, jokes that are not exactly filthy but manage to make the parents laugh while setting children giggling at the naughtiness of something actually naughtier than they know. On the basis of this particular pantomime Merton and Webster should be gracing pantomimes for years to come if they so desire because both clearly know what is demanded of those who play in them. There may be a better traditional pantomime elsewhere in the land but this is certainly one of the best.

Cast

Paul Merton – Sarah the Cook.

Suki Webster – Suki, the Sweetmaker.

Wendy Mae Brown – The Spirit of Bow Bells.

Vivien Parry - Queen Rat.

Jack Danson – Dick Whittington.

Charlie Smart – Eileen the Cat.

Erin Sophie Halliday – Alice Fitzwarren.

Ensemble - Harley Charles, Ryan Lee, Callum O’Brien, Darcy Owen, Daisy Southall, Takika Williamson.

Creatives

Director –Jonathan O’Boyle.

Choreographer – Jonathan Hawson.

Musical Director – Pierce Tee.

Musical Suopervisor – Gary Hind.

Lightong Designer – Simon Wilkinson.

Sound Designer – Ollie Durrant.

Fight Director – Philip D’Orleans.