Dick Whittington
Date - 22nd November 2016
Society - Vane Tempest Theatre Group
Venue - Fulwell Methodist Church
Type of Production - Pantomine
Director - Kieth Armitage
Musical Director - Ben Wardropper
Choreographer - Kathryn Burnett
Report - Author: Peter Oliver
Vane Tempest Theatre Group’s pantomime this year was the ever popular Dick Whittington but as ever with this group there was a twist in terms of all the music was hits from the popular group The Beatles.
This colourful and lively pantomime was well cast with all the usual characters that you would expect to find in this story directed by Keith Armitage. Music as ever was in the capable hands of Ben Wardropper who, due to ill health of some of the cast, exhaustedly ran from conducting to the stage to take the role of ships captain, well done Ben for your versatility and commitment. Chorography this year was in the competent hands of Kathryn Burnett who worked with the cast on their dancing and enabled the pantomime to have some visually well performed movement.
The story of Dick Whittington is a well known fairy tale which tells the tale of how Dick travels to London to find his fame and fortune with the aid of his trusted cat. Laura Geary gave a sterling performance as Dick Whittington and worked well with Tassia Cole as Alice Fitzwarren - both had good stage presence and their characters made a good pantomime couple, both had good vocals and I particularly enjoyed their duet “Do you want to know a secret”.
I loved the cat Colin played by Josie Littlewood great interpretation and it’s so good to see Josie’s confidence developing and delivering a confident performance.
The panto dame, Merry Berry played by Keith Armitage who gave us a great performance with the audience enjoying and joining in with the traditional pantomime sing along “Yellow Submarine”. Ashleigh Hallimond gave a good performance as Simple Simon and delivered her solo musical number “I want to hold her Hand” very well. A good performance also from Debbie Finkel as Alderman Fitzwarren whilst Ruth Watson delivered an evil and sinister King Rat, excellent characterisation and she had the audience booing in all the right places - excellent vocals (I particularly enjoyed “Devil in her heart”).
King Rats assistants, Daft played by Carolyn Adgar and Dumb played by Ben Southwick delivered some very funny dialogue and both had good stage presence. The younger rats played by the junior members of the group had the audience melting with their angelic performances played by Harriet Adgar, Benjamin Finkel, Jessica Geary and Kaitlyn Graham I loved their musical number “With a little help from my friends”.
An excellent performance from Suzy Wake as Fairy Good Enough whilst, in contrast, Kathryn Burnett gave a dark and sinister performance as the evil Fairy Bad and Worse. There were some well performed cameo roles including Gemma Parnaby as Cyrilla the shop manager, Robert Reynolds as Ben Gunn, Toni Harrison as the Fishmonger
I liked the musical number with the chorus “Obladi, Oblada” and Nick Thompson as Long Johns On and his musical number with the chorus “Octopus Garden”
Ben Wardropper gave a good performance as Harbour Master, as did Helen Southwick as the Native Chieftess.Congratulations also to the chorus Jayne Littlewood, Emily Harrison, Lindsey Southwick, Liam Whincop, Julie Ann Marshall, Katrina Wake and Lyn Swinburne for their roles as Country Folk, Townspeople, sailors and Natives all of whom contributed to the success of this wonderful and entertaining pantomime .
Date - 22nd November 2016
Society - Vane Tempest Theatre Group
Venue - Fulwell Methodist Church
Type of Production - Pantomine
Director - Kieth Armitage
Musical Director - Ben Wardropper
Choreographer - Kathryn Burnett
Report - Author: Peter Oliver
Vane Tempest Theatre Group’s pantomime this year was the ever popular Dick Whittington but as ever with this group there was a twist in terms of all the music was hits from the popular group The Beatles.
This colourful and lively pantomime was well cast with all the usual characters that you would expect to find in this story directed by Keith Armitage. Music as ever was in the capable hands of Ben Wardropper who, due to ill health of some of the cast, exhaustedly ran from conducting to the stage to take the role of ships captain, well done Ben for your versatility and commitment. Chorography this year was in the competent hands of Kathryn Burnett who worked with the cast on their dancing and enabled the pantomime to have some visually well performed movement.
The story of Dick Whittington is a well known fairy tale which tells the tale of how Dick travels to London to find his fame and fortune with the aid of his trusted cat. Laura Geary gave a sterling performance as Dick Whittington and worked well with Tassia Cole as Alice Fitzwarren - both had good stage presence and their characters made a good pantomime couple, both had good vocals and I particularly enjoyed their duet “Do you want to know a secret”.
I loved the cat Colin played by Josie Littlewood great interpretation and it’s so good to see Josie’s confidence developing and delivering a confident performance.
The panto dame, Merry Berry played by Keith Armitage who gave us a great performance with the audience enjoying and joining in with the traditional pantomime sing along “Yellow Submarine”. Ashleigh Hallimond gave a good performance as Simple Simon and delivered her solo musical number “I want to hold her Hand” very well. A good performance also from Debbie Finkel as Alderman Fitzwarren whilst Ruth Watson delivered an evil and sinister King Rat, excellent characterisation and she had the audience booing in all the right places - excellent vocals (I particularly enjoyed “Devil in her heart”).
King Rats assistants, Daft played by Carolyn Adgar and Dumb played by Ben Southwick delivered some very funny dialogue and both had good stage presence. The younger rats played by the junior members of the group had the audience melting with their angelic performances played by Harriet Adgar, Benjamin Finkel, Jessica Geary and Kaitlyn Graham I loved their musical number “With a little help from my friends”.
An excellent performance from Suzy Wake as Fairy Good Enough whilst, in contrast, Kathryn Burnett gave a dark and sinister performance as the evil Fairy Bad and Worse. There were some well performed cameo roles including Gemma Parnaby as Cyrilla the shop manager, Robert Reynolds as Ben Gunn, Toni Harrison as the Fishmonger
I liked the musical number with the chorus “Obladi, Oblada” and Nick Thompson as Long Johns On and his musical number with the chorus “Octopus Garden”
Ben Wardropper gave a good performance as Harbour Master, as did Helen Southwick as the Native Chieftess.Congratulations also to the chorus Jayne Littlewood, Emily Harrison, Lindsey Southwick, Liam Whincop, Julie Ann Marshall, Katrina Wake and Lyn Swinburne for their roles as Country Folk, Townspeople, sailors and Natives all of whom contributed to the success of this wonderful and entertaining pantomime .
