Even by panto standards, the storytelling in the Lyric’s Dick Whittington lacks propulsion. And – even by panto standards – its double entendres are relentless. Enough Dick jokes already! And yet, Cariad Lloyd and Jude Christian’s take on the boy who would be mayor is hard to resist. The balance between trad and modern, trashy and innocent, is pitched to delight kids and parents alike. And its breathless optimism about London and the chasing of impossible dreams is weirdly affecting.
Cynicism would be excusable when all London begs Luke Latchman’s obscure Welsh bumpkin Dick to “turn again”. “London loves you,” blare the placards – when, as we all know, London doesn’t give a stuff. But Christian’s production makes it easy to park world-weariness at the door. Its cast is charismatic. Its baddie, Sarah-Louise Young’s Queen Rat, isn’t scary, but knows how to elicit a boo. It’s got a streetwise Tom Cat in Keziah Joseph, to whom beyond-London is as alien as Mars, and a Lily Savage-like dame (Carl Mullaney), who runs a greasy spoon and has a ruthless trade in innuendos. “Paul Hollywood’s home-made frosting,” indeed!
The second half detours via an undersea kingdom ruled by Nicola Sturgeon, and the narrative thrust never recovers. It remains a mystery why London must depend on Dick, and Dick alone, to challenge the “alt-rat” movement for the mayoralty. But it’s easy to be swept along by the show’s warmth, spirit of fun and tight but light song-and-dance numbers, featuring pop favourites and a top-hat-and-cane duet for Dick and Alice in lieu of the usual soppy love song. It is, in short, a winning London fantasia, rekindling one’s civic pride and teeing up Christmas just so.
At the Lyric Hammersmith, London, until 6 January.
