Dick Whittington at Milton Keynes Theatre Review

Dick Whittington
Milton Keynes Theatre

8 December to 15 January 2017

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Reviewed by Louise Styles

Armed with two 4 year olds and 2 very bright flashing plastic swords my friend and I tonight attended Milton Keynes Theatre to see their pantomime, Dick Whittington. It was in short fantastic, for both the kids and the adults.

I love Milton Keynes Theatre, easy to get to, easy to park (right next door or across the street), plenty of food options nearby, clean, friendly and generally has a great variety of shows on offer.

This production of Dick Whittington starred Samantha Womack as Queen Rat and Stacey Solomon as Fairy Bowbells. Stacey opened the show in the most amazing glittery gown I’ve ever seen – I could tell my 4 year old was in awe of it too – she played herself as the fairy well and gave flashes of the Stacey people know well from X-Factor and I’m a Celebrity. She sang a couple of numbers with a great voice and sparred well with Samantha Womack in the good vs evil fight.

Samantha played the mean Queen Rat well, there were boos aplenty from the audience each time she appeared and she stole the show with a hilarious parody of the X-Factor’s Honey G. Both during the show and the finale Samantha belted out songs with a really powerful voice, she was the ultimate all round performer.

The very funny Kev Orkian played Idle Jack who kept the laughs going and provided a very funny rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas with his cast mates playing Sarah the cook and Bosun Bill. It had the whole theatre laughing and ducking for cover when the water pistols came out, a great interaction with the audience.

On the way into the theatre we were handed 3D glasses which I was confused by. During the 2nd act we were advised by a friendly little turtle to pop them on and we then watched a 3D animation for a few minutes which had the whole audience enthralled. It was unexpected and yet worked so well in mixing tradition with technology.

The whole show was everything a panto should be, funny – for both kids and parents, full of slapstick, gaudy costumes and complete with some very amusing unscripted falls and prop fails. I will be recommending this panto to everyone, a really great way to spend an evening!

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £14 to £43.50 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

Dick Whittington is at Milton Keynes Theatre unil 15 January 2017. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 8717652.

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK9 3NZ