Dick Whittington and his Cat (Salisbury)

Once again it's December and that can only mean one thing. Pantomime!

First off the bat is the Salisbury Playhouse's Dick Whittington and his Cat. Here it is business as usual. Created by Andrew Pollard and Kieran Buckeridge, it is your traditional pantomime about Dick Whittington seeking his fortune in London.

A gallant country lad, Tom Oakley is charming as Whittington. His arguments with Laura Matthews' shopaholic Alice Fitzwarren are amusing, and their relationship is adorable.

The stand-out performance is of course Kieran Buckeridge as Dick's mother, Mrs Whittington. Having played the dame in last year’s pantomime, he is once again in top form in this role. Always confused and in a tangle, the theatre reverberates to the young audience shouting "Silly WIlly"

Gemma Wardle as Bowbells is a ditzy Fairy of the Bells. Richard Hurst is a sleazy East End mobster as King Rat, and he gets to strut his stuff when he puts on an Elvis Presley outfit. He also hates cats so much that he can't even say the word.

Tim Treslove plays Alderman Fitzwarren, who owns a cheese shop and has to put up with rat infestations. He has an over reliance on cockney rhyming slang to everyone else's annoyance. As Tabby the Cat, Ella Vale has some fantastic diva vocals, even when she's speaking 'cat'.

There are no gimmicks or celebrities in this production of Dick Whittington. It is your traditional pantomime with only seven main characters and a delightful chorus of local school children. What else can you ask for?

The production includes all the audience participation and songs for the kids to relish, as well as jokes for the adults to enjoy. There’s even a few twists to the story to savour. The show even includes some local references, including the cathedral's half-finished spire that Dick promises to pay for when he's rich.

There is better theatre to be found out there, even for children. I grew out of pantomime years ago, and it is only recently that I've started seeing them again. Despite this I left this show with a smile on my face. Pantomime may not have the integrity that can be found elsewhere, but for one month each year it is simply harmless fun.

The Salisbury Playhouse proves this with a marvellous production of Dick Whittington that should be seen at a low Top Price.

Dick Whittington and his Cat plays at Salisbury Playhouse until Sat 11 January 2014.
– David Jobson