Dick Whittington - Altrincham Garrick

ALL good pantos live or die by their leads and in Conor Collins, who plays King Rat, the Garrick has an actor born to be a baddie.

When I saw this. on its freezing cold opening night, Collins managed to provoke the audience into booing and hissing him with little effort on his part every time he walked onstage.

Even big kids like me couldn’t resist the temptation to join in, even though us critics are meant to be a snooty, buttoned up bunch.

At the other end of the spectrum there are the goodies. Ethan Beer as Dick and Hannah Dorothy as the evening’s love interest, Alice Fitzwarren.

Unless you’ve had a sense of humour bypass you’ll find it impossible not to warm to Phil Edwards as Sarah the Cook and there’s a kooky bond between this panto natural and Daniel Ellis who plays his son, Idle Jack.

I also really also enjoyed Bev Stuart Cole’s Fairy Bow Bells as the action careers towards it climax. It’s hard to believe Cole has been a member at this theatre for more than 30 years, so fresh and invigorating is her performance.

Tom Whalley’s script is a mixture of daft dad jokes and a healthy smattering of saucier lines which are aimed obviously at the adults and are sure to go over the heads of the kids.

Pantos are a great way to introduce children to the theatre and there was dancing in the aisle during the musical numbers in the second half, courtesy of a group of tots who’d made it their mission to have a good time.

Also, how good it was to escape from the pressures of modern life and enjoy an evening of unbridled fun.

Until January 2. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or ww.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk

Star rating - 3.5 out of 5.

Photo by Martin Ogden.