REVIEW: DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CATFORD CAT
- CS
- Dec 5
- 2 min read
Updated: 22 minutes ago
Audiences Lap Up this Purr-fect Windrush Retelling of a Panto Classic
The story of Windrush needs to be told now more than ever - oh yes it does.
Joy Productions and Broadway Theatre's Dick Whittington and his Catford Cat does this with wit, magic and heart at the beautiful Art Deco theatre, 77 years after Windrush arrived with its first passengers.
We meet our hero, Dick (Durone Stokes) aboard a lavish Empire Windrush (a taste of the show’s sets by Olivier-winning designer Mark Walters) with his puppet feline friend, to seek their fortune on the streets of Catford.
Fairy Bowbells (Lisa Davina Phillip) transforms the cat into the semi-human form of cool, elderly Jamaican, Uncle Vincent (Wayne Rollins) for an adventure brimming with wonderful vocals, characters and laughs.
There’s a stand-out performance from Justin Brett as Sarah the Cook, the perfectly daft and charismatic, old-school dame, and a goosebump-inducing performance of (Something Inside) So Strong by Stokes.
Along the way, we meet the show’s glorious villain, Queen Rat (Natasha Lewis) with her troupe of Reform-esque vermin, in St George’s Cross ties and flat caps. including the suitably revolting and terminally flatulent Nigel Fartage.
Dick is told to “go back from where he came from;” there is unease about the interracial relationship between him and Alice Fitzwarren (Fergie Fraser) and even a reference to a “no dogs, no Irish, no…” the final word is interrupted.
Naturally, much of this flies over the heads of our young children, who cackle at the brilliant slapstick and custard pie fights, boo the rat queen and excitedly sing and dance along to the hits.
But the overarching messages of unity, compassion and forgiveness reach audience members of all ages, without losing any of the crucial panto fun and magic.
Dick Whittington and his Catford Cat, Broadway Theatre, Rushey Grn, London SE6 4RU. Until 31 December. Tickets from £11.50/pp
