Dick Whittington is a classic tale that most people seem to know. I think everyone loves the idea of the streets of London being paved with gold. Dick journeys to London under this assumption and, along the way, befriends a black-and-white cat. Together they fight off the villain, King Rat, and Dick Whittington finds love. In the end, he becomes the Lord Mayor of London.
This was my first time visiting Aldridge Youth Theatre and watching this group perform and I was in for a real treat. A painted backdrop set the scene for the show along with excellent lighting and sound, and I must say at this point how realistic the pirate ship was.
This quality production ran for the same length of time as a professional pantomime, which is a real credit to everyone involved. At no point did anyone hesitate or forget their lines. The show was clearly well rehearsed. I thought Florrie, played by Eva Yip, and Bertha Bunn, played by Oliver Floyd, did an excellent job of engaging the children, and it was obvious how hard they were working with the jokes. On the opposite side, Queen Rat, played by Chloe Johnson, really seemed to relish her role, which was evident in the way she swished around the stage. Freya Antill played Dick Whittington, and her true likeness shone through. The real star of the show, though, had to be Tommy the Cat, who had so many lines to learn.
My favourite scenes took place on the pirate ship in the second half of the show. It was clear that the dance routines were well rehearsed. The only very slight criticism I would make is that at times the movement into position could have flowed more smoothly, rather than appearing quite sudden.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable afternoon, and all of the cast on stage seemed to be enjoying it just as much as the audience – always fantastic to see. Well done Aldridge Youth Theatre. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I may have finally found a street in London paved with gold… it must be true, as Tommy the Cat told me so.
Review by – Emma T
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