Thom Dibdin, The Stage

Musselburgh, not London, is the big city to which director and writer Liam Rudden sends Dick in this magnificent local pantomime for the Brunton. The only Londoner on view is Kerry Lyn Hamilton’s Cockney sprite, Esk. It is in Musselburgh that Edward Cory’s King Rat is kidnapping the villagers and where Katrina Bryan’s feisty young Alice Fitzwarren is to be made Honest Lass on her birthday.
First, however, Alice and her father (Chris Young) have to get her birthday cake from Campie’s Cake Shop in Cockenzie. Here, Graham Crammond holds court as Dame Campie with her two sons - hunky but dim Dick (Robert Jack) and simply dim Pinkie (Arron Usher) - and their deliciously feline pussy, Dom (Claire Shepherd).
Robin Mitchell’s instantly recognisable local set compliments a welter of local jokes and topical references. But at its heart this is traditional musical-hall pantomime. Crammond, in his fourth year as Dame, is imperiously confident. Usher is increasing in maturity in the sidekick role, keeping the kids on side. Set pieces, such as the ghostly “It’s behind you”, are delivered with every understanding of the ritual involved.

Joyce McMillan - The Scotsman **** (Four stars)

HAD enough turkey? Christmas pud? Right; so now it's time to give the children a wash and brush up, and set off down to the local panto. Christmas is the time of year when townships up and down the country that have long since lost their capacity to produce professional theatre shows - or that never had it at all - are suddenly seized with the urge to make theatre again; and given this extraordinary seasonal effort, it's disappointing to note how few of the shows actually contain that key element of panto, a strong strand of local references and jokes.

There's no such problem, though, down at the Brunton in Musselburgh, a theatre that lost its own in-house company only a few years ago, and still knows how to slam on a rough-edged but splendid piece of locally produced entertainment. Written and directed by Liam Rudden of the Evening News, the Brunton's Dick McWhittington is as thoroughly local a reworking of the old story as any audience could wish to see, firmly set in the kingdom of East Lothian. Musselburgh is the throbbing capital, its streets paved with gold ("or is that fish?" says the Dame); and Dick is a handsome, kilted lad from Prestonpans who sets off for this glittering metropolis to make his fortune, pausing by a milestone in front of a rural view of Cockenzie power station.

There's no point in pretending that the production values in this Brunton show come anywhere near those of larger theatres. There's a wobbly, hand-knitted feeling to the sets and some of the acting, and the dancers are tiny, excellent local schoolchildren rather than grown-up professionals. In spirit, though, this is truly a panto with everything, from the traditional slapstick and ghost scenes to the songsheet, the true romance, the essential audience participation, and the throwing of sweeties.

Graham Cramond, as Widow Campie McWhittington, is a truly promising young Dame, effortlessly running the show. And Katrina Bryan, as the lovely Alice Fitzwarren, gives a performance to shame some of this year's listless big-stage heroines, full of a true panto spirit of sweetness and rebellion, and big-hearted resistance to the power of evil.

Steve Cramer - The List **** (Four stars)

The Pitch: All Alice (Katrina Bryan) has ever longed for is Dick. He (Robert Jack) feels some affection for her, too, but he’s got his hands full with his mum (Graham Crammond) who, unusually, has a Pinkie Winkie - Jack’s little brother (Arron Usher). And this isn’t the only impediment to them getting together, since evil King Rat (Edward Cory) wants to take over Musselburgh, and fill it with parking wardens and teachers. Only Dick, with a bit of help from an incompetent water spirit (Kerry Lyn Hamilton) can stop her. Meantime, he’ll feel better with a bit of pussy, and gets it from Dom, his beloved mogee (Claire Shepherd), who’s also a bit of a martial artist.

The Verdict: Given its resources, Liam Rudden, directing his own script, produces a little stormer here. Deftly paced, inventive and packed with incident, this is certainly the best the building has seen since Mark Thomson’s glorious pantos from the days of the house company. There’s plenty of contemporary reference, from a Deal or no Deal parody to a ‘Sheila’s Wheels’ intro for the Dame, and the songs are well chosen favourites well sung.

The cast perform with appealing freshness and vigour, with Crammond’s interactive Dame keeping the edge on the innuendo, and Jack’s endearing hero tipping some well timed winks at the audience. Most of all, Katrina Bryan’s cheek-pinchingly winsome Alice is a treat, perhaps the panto turn of the season from a young performer we deserve to see more of.