For many on the outside, East Cowes seems to be just a Red Funnel car park, a Waitrose and a place you just drive through on your escape to The Mainland.
However, Dick Whittington had the town’s community spirit on full display: local councillors helped keep refreshments stocked; there was a community cast of over 35 performers; and the auditorium was packed out.
Unlike the Floating Bridge, Amy White Theatre was fully operational this weekend.
Dick certainly ticked all the panto boxes, with those iconic audience call-outs, singalongs, innuendo, a random UV scene and terrible jokes.
The audience was full of excitement before we even get into the building, with calls of ‘Are you ready for panto?!’ to the queues of people lining up outside East Cowes Town Hall.
The buzz continued inside, with announcements and practice boos and cheers.
Then, a member of the audience was selected to press the big red button and Amy White Theatre’s 2023 panto was underway.
Amy White Theatre makes the most of what they’ve got.
A superb lighting design added to the party vibes, while a toe-tapping soundtrack and some great dance routines made this traditional panto feel just as fun for a 2023 audience.
Callum Davies certainly had the most impressive entrance, with high kicks, spins, leaps - the works. This cat can dance! A hilarious role, a ridiculous costume and fabulous moves all earned him - and rightly so - the biggest applause of the night.
Bet Hartley was perfectly revolting as the evil Queen Rat. She's a small but mighty performer, with great stage presence and superb characterisation. I really enjoyed her rocking rendition of Rat Out Of Hell. Hartley is fun, feisty and fabulous- definitely one to watch.
It took a bit of time to warm to Emily Smith’s Dick but, in the second half, she seemed a lot more relaxed and interacted well with the audience. Her vocals were superb and her tap dancing was a fantastic addition to ‘Dancing in the Sweets’.
Ian Briggs was an amusing dame, who slid in as many double entendres as he could. A bundle of energy and some great moments to embarrass the men in the audience meant it was chaotic, colourful and brilliantly bonkers - just what we expect from a dame.
This show felt like a big Christmas hug and certainly put a big smile on the faces of all those in attendance.
Amy White Theatre are presenting The Wizard of Oz in May and if Dick Whittington is anything to go by, it’ll be full of community spirit.
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