We’ve been tossed, turned and tumbled
It was a right mare on Mare Street – the wind was blowing hard and the rain had soaked Frida’s unsuitably baggy trousers before we’d even made it under the river, write Ed, Frida, and Woody Gray.
Nevertheless, stepping through the historic doors of Hackney Empire cheers any dampened ardour. This year’s panto is Dick Whittington, directed by the great Clive Rowe, who also plays the Dame, Sarah the Cook, so we settled into our seats marvelling at the architectural finesse of this temple to popular culture as Frida dried her socks.
My last visit here was for a Pogues reunion gig a few months ago. It was a wild night of carousing, singing, and dancing. Clive Rowe’s lively production now provides a similarly intoxicating effect with much less of a hangover.
Fairy Bow Bells and King Rat warm up eager children – adults have pre-heated themselves with pre-show cocktails – and we are away on Dick’s journey to London and the adventures that await him and Tommy the Cat, played with fluffy feline feistiness by Kat B who takes on wily rodents Scratch and Sniff.
Clive Rowe is a devilish delight as Sarah the Cook, delivering snappy one liners and debatable double-entendres with a twinkle in her eye, making mischief with Idle Jack and Alderman Fitzwarren whilst sporting fabulously designed costumes that are worth the ticket price alone. Soon everyone sets sail on the Saucy Sal bound for the Caribbean to make their fortunes.
The sprinkling of song and dance numbers throughout are expertly performed by this highly professional cast. Panto favourite ‘Something Else I’d Rather Be’ is well-polished and timed to perfection with the cast enjoying all the shenanigans as much as the crowd. Watch out for the clever switch that hushes the audience as young Dick (Kandaka Moore) seems to magically clone himself before our eyes during a subsequent dream sequence.
There are more audible gasps during a beautifully and brilliantly evocative underwater scene with Tommy the Cat and dancing neon jellyfish. Frida whispers quite loudly ‘So cool!’, her sodden feet a distant memory. We resurface in the palace of the Sultan of Swing with a 60s’ medley from the superb live band, as lowly Jack’s dream of rising to become Mayor of London is finally realised. Hold onto your dreams and they might come true is a panto mantra worth repeating once in a while. ‘It’s really uplifting,’ said a beaming Woody as he got to his feet to applaud.
As the Dame herself proclaimed, ‘We’ve been tossed, turned and tumbled – sounds like a fantastic night out in Dalston!’ And it really was one to warm your heart, tickle your ribs, pull your leg, and dry your socks.
Hackney Empire , 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ until 5th January. Admission: £10 – £45.
Booking: www.hackneyempire.co.uk
