Full of appropriate (and inappropriate) references to “current affairs’ (Daily Mail gossip) and, rather curiously, Clare from Steps, “Dick!” gets you into the Christmas spirit in a similar way that bellowing the expletive lyrics to The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” does. The Leicester Square Theatre is playing host to this salacious romp until January 20 2013 . You may find that such an intimate space is slightly unsuitable for the no-holds-barred toilet humour, however, avoid the front row and you are guaranteed a night of relentless laughter and open-mouthed disbelief at the unapologetic crudity. On the other hand, if you really want in on the action, make sure you get there early and nab one of those front row seats.
Writer and Director Stuart Saint has done a great job with this comically talented cast, and there is even a vague plotline that can be followed – an achievement for any pantomime performance in my opinion! Stand-out performances come from Lucyelle Cliffe as Queen Runt, the compulsory villain and Gary Albert Hughes as the eponymous ‘Dick!’. Cliffe does not hesitate in hamming up the panto factor, getting the audience fully involved with booing and hissing, and her singing is also of a high standard, especially in the midst of some ‘diva-offs’ with ‘Fairy Bell-End’ (Laura Hyde). Hughes equally submits himself fully to the circus that is this production, keeping the punters constantly entertained with his persistent innuendo and strong vocal performance. I must also give a special mention to Rae Brogan as Alice who kept me constantly entertained with her white-girl, London gangster ‘swagger’.
The riotous humour is such that the cast struggled to keep it together at times, but I can forgive this at such an early stage in production and if anything it made the audience feel all the more part of the spectacle.
London’s number one Adult Panto plays at the Leicester Square Theatre until Sunday 20 January. If you are looking for a good festive night out, I suggest you book tickets here.
Written by a Thoroughly Modern Man, Mark McCloskey.
