The Stage

Dick Whittington

Published Friday 11 December 2009 at 12:55 by Neil Bonner

The longer Jonathan Wilkes continues to top the bill of his hometown panto - this is his fifth consecutive year in Hanley - the more you begin to wonder when he is going to peak, both in terms of his popularity and his performance. Happily, it hasn’t happened yet because the talented all-rounder continues to build on his vocal and comedic abilities, while his regional pulling power would appear to be as strong as ever.

Christian Patterson, who appeared in last year’s Regent panto, is also back, this time to play a suitably voluptuous Sarah the Cook. He and Wilkes are responsible for generating nearly all the laughs and, in their capable hands, even the thinner material is used to maximum effect, helped by plenty of ad-libbing and, it has to be said, an over-reliance on use of the word Dick.

The show benefits from an excellent King Rat, courtesy of Steven Serlin, who pitches his level of villainy just right, not to mention his fine singing voice. Ex-Three Degrees singer Sheila Ferguson makes a great Fairy Oatcakes while Robbie Williams’ dad, Pete Conway, is an amiable Alderman FitzWilliams.

While there’s nothing terribly original here, it’s fun and traditional - and a fine cast makes it a winner.