Panto fun awaits

Lydia Wilson (Tommy) and Erina Rangi (Dick) rehearse their roles in Dick Whittington and his Cat pantomime. Photo / Duncan Brown.

Dick Whittington and his Cat promises plenty of laughs for Theatre Hawke's Bay's patrons.

Alderman Fitzwarren comes up with a cunning plan to save his London business, which is being overrun by rats. But then his planned trip to Morocco to buy more wares goes horribly wrong.

And after a shipwreck, Dick, the crew and Dick's trusty cat, Tommy, find themselves in the palace of the Emperor who is suffering the same problem as Fitzwarren. Who will save the day?

This Ben Crocker-penned pantomime is a show for all ages, with all the hallmarks of a traditional pantomime - an enjoyable plot with plenty of twists and turns and witty verse.

Recognisable key characters include the Dame, aka Sarah the cook, played by Paul Malan, and a "fairy with attitude", played by Robyn Windley in her first acting role.

Fitzwarren's nemesis King Rat is Graeme Fothergill, while the man himself is played by Ross Kennedy. His daughter, Alice, Dick's love interest, is Gemma McCarthy, who shared a stage earlier this year in the Napier Theatre School's Bugsy Malone production with Lydia Wilson, who plays Dick's feline sidekick, Tommy.

Glen Stewart appears as Fitzwarren's apprentice, Idle Jack, with Erina Rangi in the leading role of Dick.

This will be the directorial debut at Theatre HB for Anne Jamieson and her husband, Howard de Courcy Lys, who have previously directed several productions together at Aubyn Live Theatre.

Crocker, who has also been an actor and director, is the son of well-known Brit pantomime playwright and actor John Crocker.

Jamieson says he has been writing pantomimes for the past few years and has managed to insert a little more modernity into this traditional style of show.

Dick Whittington and his Cat, 7.30pm, November 28-30, December 4, December 5-7, 2pm December 1 and 7, Playhouse Theatre, Hastings. Tickets $10-$60, some dinner shows available, from Ticket Direct.