Lyndhurst Drama & Music Society 
Vernon Theatre, Lyndhurst 
Darren Funnell 
26 January 2025
75 years? Congratulations Lyndhurst Drama & Musical Society. What a fun way to start with Dick Whittington at the Vernon Theatre. I was rather spoilt. I had a ‘sneak peek’ at the Dress rehearsal. This Society has always been very welcoming. Seeing a show ‘ready to go’ on an otherwise windy and damp afternoon certainly lifted the spirits. I was glad I went along. You will be too.
True to the spirit of pantomime, the performance delivers a family-friendly mix of humour, music, and audience interaction, all carried by the enthusiasm of an intimate, often spontaneous, witty cast and a super smart script from James Barry. Direction by Debbie Murray and Hannah Rogers is sprightly, good natured and well-paced. I particularly liked that the performance is ‘child friendly’ with each half delivered in under an hour to avoid excessive fidgeting. Even for the adults!
The production design is thoughtful, with super costumes (Di Buck) and creative lighting (Deirdre and Andy Bennett) that helps bring the story’s varied settings to life. The sets are simple and effectively painted. As set painters rarely get a callout here’s one for you, Sarah Short! There is a sort of casual charm in the cheats employed to get across sea voyages and the other demands of Dick Whittington that the budget will not allow. So, if overall visual presentation supports the story well, the real magic comes from the cast’s enthusiasm, and a certain dazzling daftness that keeps on giving long after a sheet of fabric is rippled on the stage.
None of this would work without the cast. Panto is relentless and this cast are the same. Matilda Wilks is a charming Dick Whittington, leading the show with fluid energy and a real sense of fun. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and she is easy to root for. Michele Arkle is a “meow, meow, meow, purr, meow” – yes, she is – not to mention a fantastic sidekick to Dick. Every pantomime needs a villain, and Mike Watson is a proper one. King Rat is delightfully dastardly and plays to the crowd perfectly. The audience will be more than happy to boo and hiss at every opportunity come opening night.
Shawn Condra brings something a little different to Dame Dolly Dumpling, and it works rather splendidly. While many Dames go for the big, bold, over-the-top approach, Condra’s take is more subtle, wry, knowing, with a distinctly American flavour. Born for the role and a pair of coconuts. Vic Milne has his hands full playing three characters, but he handles it brilliantly. From the serious Alderman to the bumbling Captain and the flamboyant Sultan, it is difficult to understand how he resists the Dame’s charm in triplicate!
Elspeth Dyer gives a feisty performance as Alice Fitzwarren, making much of a role that often gets overlooked. The ensemble cast – Will Baker, Imogen Barnett, Ruby Kendrick, Dylan Murray, and Madeleine Murray – whether singing, dancing, or scheming as rats, or especially as rats, add all the vibrant layers one could hope for. Stevie Parker deserves a special mention for stepping in at short notice as Fairy Bowbells (Hilary Causey). She brought a wonderfully cheeky, down-to-earth take to the role, complete with curlers and a South London accent. Here’s hoping Hilary gets better soon.
And that’s it, really. From what I’ve seen this is another enjoyable, energetic, jolly Panto from the Lyndhurst Team that is well worth a couple of hours of your time. It opens on Friday 31 January for a short run into Saturday 1 February (matinee/evening). Your good fortune is it’s not in London, it is in Lyndhurst! It is pathed with gold!
[Editorial: Review of Dress Rehearsal]
