Oh Yes He Is….Jim Davidson’s back, he’s brought his magical pantomime Dick Whittington with him, and plonked it into the newly refurbished Hippodrome…which is looking spankingly festive and new!

Jim came to Bristol a few years ago with the World Premier of Dick Whittington, but has decided it is time for Bristol to get back into the Panto spirit….and why not? Dick Whittington is everything you would expect from a normal pantomime, the classic good vs evil story, the corny jokes, the set pieces, the hissing, the booing, the cheering, the foot tapping and the audience interaction. However Jim has made this extra special with some brilliant touches, which not only bring Panto into the 21^st century, but also make it appealing to any audience member of any age.

The classic Panto 2D, comic book style sets are intertwined here with so much technology you’d think that you are on the Starship Enterprise…in fact when Jim enters the stage you could be sure of it! That moment is one of the most stunning technological theatrical moments to ever hit the Hippodrome’s stage and as soon as you see it, you know this is a Panto you’ll never forget. The technology is just astounding, and it really does make kids and adults alike go wow! They’ll all forget about the cinema when they see this. The lighting is that of a rock concert, the use of computer animation has obviously been taken from Shrek but works perfectly for a modern day audience, you’ll be amazed!

The cast are all enthusiastic enough, however it is Jim Davidson who steals the show, he brings the stage to life every time he’s on it. He has such a rapport with the audience, and such a quick wit you will be in hysterics throughout. The best thing about Jim is not his ability to ad-lib, to take risks, or to play the fool but it is his material with manages to strike a chord with adults and children alike, each finding different things unbelievably funny. Yes it’s worth coming to see this for Davidson alone…however you get more for you money than just him. John Virgo makes the most of a pretty poor part, and although some people find him wooden, he played the character with the right hint of fun, and did the best he could with material, which doesn’t really suit him. Howard Taylor from GWR fm managed to shock me with an impressive CV in the programme, and the good news is that his performance is as impressive. Alive Fitzwarren is played by the fisty and well voiced Louisea Landon and her praise worthy performance is accompanied by her on-stage dad Alderman who is played the John Lyons. Victor Spinetti is showing his age, yet still managed to play King Rat like the pro he is and Roger Kitter has been exceptionally cast as Sarah the Cook. Each performance is good, however it is how the team bond which makes them brilliant. 

The sets and lighting are fantastic, and the way they are used is fine, but Panto isn’t just about effects oh no! The material here is a clever combination of old and new. There is the right amount of modern day references, jokes and gags to keep the audience on their toes and the parents happy, while it is mixed with the traditional pantomime routines such as “He’s Behind You” which create for a magical combination.

There are very few criticisms to make about this show, Davidson has really brought a almost perfect production to Bristol and anyone who sees it will no doubt be delighted. The one thing I would say is that some of the songs leave a lot to be desired, and the Panto does at times try to be a musical. They have made the decision to include new songs which don’t add anything to the show, and it would have been better to stick with popular tunes from the charts or even Disney movies, which we all know and love. There was also a bit too much padding, which caused the show to last just a little bit too long. But these slight problems can easily be overlooked when you see a child’s face light up and have the time of their life.

You know when a child leaves saying that they want to see this again that the show is good, but when the adults say yes…well then you know your on to a sure fire hit. This is a festive treat which is not to be missed, go-on experience the magic of Panto…you won’t find a better one than Dick Whittington.

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