Where we go to the panto

Subject: Where we go to the panto Tue Jan 18, 2011 7:36 pm

[b]Where we go to the panto

Labels: Lyric Theatre, Simon Kunz

Where we go to the panto MEDIA_DICK_WHITTINGTON

The Actor, Dave Holland and made a rare trip to West London to go to the matinee of a panto this afternoon. Not our usual Saturday activity! But this wasn't a usual panto as you can see from the blingy cat in the photo.

Our good friend Simon Kunz has been in Dick Whittington at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. We've been meaning to go since it started sometime in mid-December and finally got it together the day the show closes. This is typical of us leaving everything until the last minute.

Where we go to the panto 101002_181730_The+Lyric+theatre

I'd forgotten how many good shops there are in Hammersmith and as we walked to the theatre from the car park my head was swiveling around on my neck at all the sales displays in the windows. The Actor managed to stop me going in anywhere as we would have been late.

The show was sold out and was packed with over excited kids and parents. Simon got us some seats in the front row of the upper circle. We got stuck into some large coffees followed by an afternoon glass of red wine. We were sitting next to Sinitta, her mum (who looks more like her older sister) and her two lovely children. I noticed her son was wearing a Chanel tracksuit. I didn't even know Chanel did tracksuits!

Inside the starkly modern interior the original theatre has been restored

Where we go to the panto Picture+13

I love the ceilings of our old theatres and couldn't resist taking a snap

The panto was fantastic and we got right into it shouting out and singing! I had the boys sitting either side of me and they both have booming voices. At one point there was a man in a gorilla suit on stage and we were supposed to be shouting "He's behind you" but Dave just yelled "Monkey!!" repeatedly which was hilarious and the kids of course started doing the same.

The script and songs were really clever and they'd incorporated lots of current references setting it on the streets of Hammersmith. They'd used well known songs which they changed the lyrics to - Jay Z's New York, something by the Pussycat Dolls I can't name and it closed on a rousing version of Katy Perry's California Girls with the entire cast and all the dancers leaping about.

The cast were all excellent. The Bow Bells were voiced by Stephen Fry and Alan Davies. Simon was fabulous as King Rat, I would never have recognised him under the wig and make-up. He's better known as the butler in the Lindsay Lohan version of The Parent Trap.

Simon did a brilliant rendition of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance and the dance routine was amazing. I must also mention Rosalind James who played Alice who has a world class singing voice.

Where we go to the panto Dick_whittington

Simon Kunz as King Rat and Nathan Byron as Scaramouche

Where we go to the panto Dick_1

Steven Webb was great as Dick. The lovely Emma Thompson and her mum Phyllida Law came along to see him

Where we go to the panto Home_1-1

Paul J. Medford (aka Kelvin from Eastenders) was excellent as Cat and I loved his dancing and energy.

We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, what a brilliant and funny afternoon!

Hope you had a great Saturday xxx

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