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The Review - THEATRE by ANGELA COBBINAH
Published: 13 December 2007

Whittington’s high returns

DICK WHITTINGTON
Hackney Empire

THE audience broke into rapturous applause as the Hackney Empire’s lights dimmed for the start of the panto, such was their high expectations of what was to come.
They were not disappointed. Sue McKenna, whose Christmas shows have made a trip to the Empire a must-do at the festive season, ticked all the right boxes with a hilarious night’s entertainment in the best burlesque tradition.
She was helped in no small measure by the wonderful Clive Rowe, whose larger than life Dame, over the top costumes and snappy one-liners about firm patties, cream horns and bendy buses dominated the proceedings.
Hackney panto favourites Tameka Empson as the dotty Fairy Bowbells and David Ashley in the role of an eventually repentant King Rat added to the laughs, while MTV/Choice FM star Kat as Idle Jack made sure there was plenty of audience participation.
These days it’s not enough to shout “He’s behind you” and so on. You’re expected to jump up, sing, shake those hips and generally let your hair down, which the audience – the vast majority of them unaccompanied adults – duly did.
The silvery vocals of Hannah Jane Fox in the title role were unable to make up for the show’s lack of strong original ballads so it was left to Rowe to take up the slack with some stunning belters. Empson’s rendition of the Maytal’s Monkey Man was also good fun, while a spectacular sailing ship and a giant gorilla led to more squeals of delight.
It’s not every day that a mere panto receives a standing ovation, but this one did.
Until January 12
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