A LARGE cast, from a wide age range, entertained large audiences at Royal Wootton Bassett Memorial Hall last week, where the 15th WBLOS pantomime, Dick Whittington, by Mark Jack , was set in the 1980s.

Dick Whittington Updated featured a Rubic's cube, a gigantic mobile phone and a magical spaceship in a lively tale in which the villains were King Rat and his henchmen. An entourage of scurrying little rats clearly relished their roles, and the large chorus cascaded from the stage to cavort exuberantly in the aisles. A four piece band maintained the pace as action moved from Highgate Hill to the shores on Oman and back again.

Citty Aspell, as Principal Boy, gave a confident, charming portrayal of Dick Whittington, with Cerys Baker as Tommy the faithful cat.

Stuart Dark was the ebullient dame Delia Dumplings, and Tammy Hollands clowned around as the nap-prone Idle George. Mark Richardson was Alderman Fitzwaterman, whose lovely daugher Alice (Kimberley Evans) soon won Dick's devotion.

The evil schemes of the sinister rats, Ross Bathurst, Alex Stroud and Holger Bronthulf Alsmeir, were scotched by Fairy Bow Bells (Kelly McCarthy), and an exotic touch was provided by Lane Stow as Wasir. Other roles were played with panache by Kathy Sterry, TK McCue, Linus Davies, Kate Davidson, Amber Burn and Simon Blake.

Director Hay Blake was assisted by Rachael Hardy and Dennis Golding was musical director.

Stella Taylor