Dick Whittington and His Cat

Synopsis

Pantomime about a boy and his cat who set off to London to make their fortune - usually with Dick's Brother (Idle Jack) and mother - there they usually meet Baron Fitzwarren and sail away to seek treasure. In some versions King Rat goes with them to steal the treasure, in others they reach a land infested with rats where they haven't heard of cats and Dick does a deal, returning home rich he becomes Lord Mayor of London. Based extremely loosely on a real person (Richard Whittington, 1350 to 1423), there is a statue of the cat outside the Whittington Hospital in North London where Dick is supposed to have heard the bells say "Turn again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London" as he trudged away from the city. First recorded panto on this theme was in 1814.

Our Review:

6 December 2006

There has been so much publicity emanating from Mark Ravenhill and the Barbican about their pantomime not being shocking or frightening that it comes as a surprise to find such a tame and tepid production at the end of all their “back to panto basics” protestations.

Ravenhill and director Edward Hall have at least recognised the correct story outline of Dick, the Gloucestershire lad, finding fame and fortune as Lord Mayor of London, and marrying the Alderman’s daughter, after Tommy his cat has purged Morocco of its rat epidemic. They also revert to the principal boy principle, with Summer Strallen – the best Maisie ever in The Boy Friend this year - slapping her thighs and stalking about the stage with a marvellous, defiant aplomb. And Derek Elroy’s Tommy is a very cool cat indeed, as well versed in martial arts as he is in sympathy-grabbing.

They are falsely accused of robbing Alderman Fitzwarren – the money is planted in Dick’s trademark bundle – but the h...

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Latest User Review

86.136.14.215) - 18 December 2006:

Fabulous fun, thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults this evening. The people who are negative about this seem to forget that it's a pantomime. Highly recommended....

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