The festive season is now in full swing and not only did we tick off our first panto of the year this weekend, but it’s the second review in a row to feature villainous rodents. Dick Whittington and his Cat marks Anthony Spargo’s third year writing the ever-excellent Greenwich panto and his 11th year starring in the show. He’s back in the baddie role once again this year, alongside Louise Cielecki who returns to Greenwich for her third year. Read our Q&A with the dastardly duo here then read on to hear what we thought of this traditional tale with a time travelling twist.
Once again, Spargo takes a classic panto and sprinkles it with surprises, keeping things customary while also feeling fresh and exciting. The story begins, of course, with Dick Whittington (Samuel Bailey) heading to London to seek his fortune, accompanied by a talking cat (Inés Ruiz) (who also proves to be an accomplished saxophonist!) Upon arrival in London, the duo discover that the place is overrun by rats and earn themselves jobs as chief rat catcher for Meggs the baker (Phil Yarrow), whose bakery is located on Pudding Lane for crucial plot purposes! But Ratticous (Anthony Spargo) and his sidekick, Muffy Mouse (Louise Cielecki) soon hatch a plan to chase their feline foe out of town. And what starts as a simple act of deceit escalates into an adventure that will change the course of London history forever.
Spargo’s script is witty, with plenty of word play and a nice balance of adult and family-friendly humour. (It’s certainly nowhere near the smuttiest panto you’ll come across although the protagonist’s name does offer some low-hanging fruit!) There are also some comforting panto set pieces and lots of opportunities for raucous audience engagement. The plot may have more holes than a block of Emmental but, as Ratticous himself acknowledges, it’s best to just roll with it.
Like last year, Emily Bestow’s versatile revolving set design is fantastic, offering a feast for the eyes with plenty of amusing little features to look out for (including the return of some familiar puppets). The costuming is similarly playful – Meggs’ bosom buns are a sight to behold! And – of course – there is a brilliant live band led by Greenwich Theatre’s permanent panto fixture, Uncle Steve Markwick. We did notice some sound balance issues on Saturday (with the performers sometimes difficult to hear over the band) but they were also having to battle against the noise of the excited children of Dulwich Village (who apparently book out Greenwich theatre once a year).
Anthony Spargo and Louise Cielecki. Image credit: Danny with a camera.
Overall, it’s another success from Spargo who is also the standout performer as Ratticous, alongside the effervescent Cielecki as his comedy sidekick. It’s almost a shame that they have all their scenes together, as the energy in the room ramps up a notch every time they scurry onto the stage. The ending also feels a tad abrupt but perhaps that’s a deliberate ploy to leave the audience wanting more.
Once again, Greenwich Theatre proves that you don’t have to be the biggest, flashiest or rudest panto to be the coolest cats in town. Dick Whittington and his Cat is a high-energy, musical adventure that will have audiences squeaking with laughter. We can’t wait to take the second star to the right and head straight on until 2025, when they return with Peter Pan.
Dick Whittingon and his Cat plays at Greenwich Theatre from 22 November 2024 to 5 January 2025. We received complimentary tickets to the evening performance on 30 November.