Review: Dick Whittington and His Cat, now that’s entertainment!

January 29, 2014 · 0 Comments

Shelburne is very fortunate to have been graced with the calibre of the top quality performance of Dick Whittington and His Cat. Twice cancelled due to inclement weather, the performance was well worth the wait. Dick Whittington and His Cat is a pantomime the entire family will enjoy!

The cast delivered dialogue articulately, humorously, and naturally, which is essential when engaging audience participation ensuring an effective and wonderfully intelligent pantomime.

A truly professional, talented, compassionate and quick thinking cast not only engaged the audience, but very quick witted response to any remark the audience had to offer.

Costumes were visually captivating, the set visually stimulating but not distracting, and the talented,live musical accompaniment completed a performance extraordinaire. Although difficult to single out one performance, actor Jeannette Massicote, who played Raffia, Queen Rat delivered a remarkable, memorable performance. From the ear wrenching cackle, frightening facial expressions, to the design of the costume, and the infectious energy of the evil character, one could only surrender to the actor and hang on every word.

In addition to having written, directed and produced Dick Whittington and His Cat, Bev Nicholas’ performances were endearing, sweet, humorous and memorable, experience and talent shining through. Choreography by Jo Hubbard also brought the stage to life with joyful, uplifting, relatable movements perfectly timed to the decade the play takes place in.

Jo Hubbard, Melina Prentice, Brenda Stewart, Bev Nicholas, Peter King, Michelle Steele, Kim Peeters, Meaghan Wright, Jeanette Massicote, Larry Creasey, Jameson Saleta, Sharon Creasey, Julie White, Hope Petican, Rejean Ghanem, are truly spectacular, experienced, professional performers who treat Shelburne to a wonderful, feel good couple of hours that will leave you wanting to return for the next Tipling Stage Company’s Presentation! Bravo!

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCdIETUFEO4&feature=youtu.be, or watch the video on the Shelburne Free Press Facebook page for an amateur video clip of Dick Whittington and His Cat.

Shelburne can look forward to the next theatre treat by The Tipling Stage Company on April 25th, Jenny’s House of Joy, by Norm Foster and directed by Shelburne’s very own, Jean Jardine Miller.

Special Note of Correction: In last week’s article, Robin Hood was actually written by Dennis Stephenson, and was the first pantomime performed by the Tipling Stage Company, Waiting For the Parade, one of Nicholas’s favorite plays which he did not write is a Canadian work by John Murrell, and finally, a ridiculous misspelling I apologise for is a well known Country in the United Kingdom, Wales, not Whales (unless you happen to be someone named Jonah!) Thank you for your understanding.

By Alex Sher

9 year old, Grade 4 student, Mark Rogers is one kid pantomimes were made for as he sat up front directing comments to Raffia, Queen Rat several times during the performance of Dick Whittington and His Cat adding to the enjoyment of audience.

(L to R) Amanda Fox and her two year old son, Philip really enjoyed the performance of Dick Whittington and His Cat. “I like supporting the community theatre and I love the Shelburne has something like this. It gives us something to do, keeps us in Shelburne which is very important,” commented Fox noting the caliber of the performance was great.