Panto puts the sparkle into Christmas (From Hereford Times)

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Panto puts the sparkle into Christmas

11:41am Tuesday 5th December 2006

By Nigel Heins »

HE'S set to be Herefordshire's public enemy number one this Christmas. With his widow's peak between wicked eyes, glistening green fur with matching claws and thick, swishing tail, he's truly horrible. And he's proud to be dirty!

He's King Rat, the resident rodent in the Courtyard's pantomime Dick Whittington. He's a vile example of vermin who is guaranteed to receive thousands of boos and jeers.

Among his dastardly deeds is the summoning up of the storm that causes a stunning shipwreck with scenes that are literally spec-tacular, thanks to the audience's 3-D glasses.

Boys and girls - and mums and dads - love a good baddie, as long as he's outnumbered by goodies. That is certainly the case in this super production. If you have a bad rat, played by Nick Smithers, you need a good cat and Jessica Robinson was just that, creating a truly funny feline.

Director and panto dame Izzy Eckerslike (Nicholas Collett) is a treat to watch and formed a laugh-a-minute partnership with her son, Willy Eckerslike, bonnily played by Floyd Hughes.

Dame Izzy is as ugly as sin, but not in the eyes of Alderman Fitzwarren. Terry Pearson dithers well along this tortuous road to romance.

Alex Tomkins, as Dick Whittington, is truly the boy next door, with a winning smile beneath a floppy hat. He's another one tested by true love never running smooth. But Alice Fitzwarren, Denise Hoey, believes in him and refuses to be fooled by the dirty rat's bids to ruin their lives.

With a super set, ingenious costumes, great music and electric choreography, the cast genuinely seemed to be having fun - and it was catching.

All the crazy capers contribute towards a corking Courtyard Christmas cracker for county kids.

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