The festive period for theatre critics is an odd one as this week started with Gallic misery fest Les Misérables and finished with this classic example of what is a quintessentially British art form that has even survived into the digital age.
Pantos work (oh yes, they do) because they are plain daft, and everyone in the family can enjoy them. Whole families are out tonight as pantos don’t get any sillier than the Rock ‘N’ Roll brand, which had been offering music and fun in this historic venue for over a decade. There is something undeniably surreal and utterly joyous watching a six-foot Brummer rat belting out Pretty Vacant for reasons that weren’t entirely clear.
And let’s be honest Dick Whittington is a gift that keeps giving (oh yes, it is) for any decent panto writer. Peter Rowe is a master of this genre, so within five minutes we had one dick joke and a call and response routine to get the slightly over-excited (and that’s just the adults) crowd warmed up.
Here the ‘plot’ revolves around Yorkshireman Richard Whittington who had made his way to London town dominated by King Rat, and as always in panto fell instantly in love with posh Londoner Alice Fitzwarren as the race for city mayor got underway. Look, it’s not blooming Shakespeare (oh no, it’s not) but after a year of serious works the local press corps want some fun too.
That is exactly what’s on offer with endless corny jokes, smut for the adults, pratfalls for the kids, a quite spectacular fart gag, which is a classic of its kind, and endless pop songs. Big and bold versions of hit songs have always been a staple of any decent panto, but here the shtick is that actors are also the band. This year’s band might be the tightest yet as they knockout Motown hits, and Claire Keegan as Alice belts out a rocking version of Holding Out For a Hero as she yearns for Dick (oh God, panto fever is catching).
All pantos live and die by their Dame and the charming Simon Hock is back as the flamboyant and bawdy Sarah the Cook. He is becoming a world class Dame sporting a series of increasingly outrageous costumes (oh yes, he does), including one inspired by Mission Impossible (don’t ask), raising arch eyebrows as he delivers another smutty line sailing over the kids’ heads to the adults. Sarah/Simon advising Alice she shouldn’t go to Yorkshire ‘chasing after Dick’ was so beautifully timed I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s amazing that a few days earlier he was in hospital as his energy and engagement with the kids was extraordinary.
His work with another Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto stalwart, and king of the comedy fall, Kenny Davies as Alderman Fitzwarren was great fun. It was great to see after 12 years in this show the local funny man finally got a wig that he gamely tried to keep on all night with a varying degree of success.
Ben Mabberley was a suitably dashing leading man, and there was great chemistry with Keegan as they belted out their big numbers. A decent villain is always vital, and Ben Stratton gleefully squeezed out every boo as a wonderfully over the top King Rat.
Theatre snobs always forget that for many people their only trip to a live show may be a panto with the kids and speaking from personal experience those memories last a lifetime in the same way as the first time you watch a Shakespeare play. As the cast sprayed the press with high powered water guns, I looked along the line and every one of us was laughing our heads off because this is a genre that is all about some much needed fun.
Smutty, funny and played with real skill by a hard-working cast, this latest version of what is now a Leeds theatrical intuition once again delivered the goods for panto fans of all ages. Oh yes, it did.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto is at Leeds City Varieties until Sunday 8th January 2023. To book www.leedshertiagetheatres.com or 0113 2430808.
Reviewer: Paul Clarke
Reviewed: 1st December 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★