23 Dec 1998, 28th Dec 1998 to 2nd Jan 1999
Eve - 7.30pm
Mat (28 Dec, 1 and 2 Jan) - 2.30pm
Written by Ken Branchette
Background
According to the popular legend and pantomime story, Dick Whittington was
a poor boy who made his way to London when he heard that the streets were paved with gold.
He found shelter as a servant in the house of a rich merchant who permitted each of
his servants to sail with a cargo of merchandise to Barbary. Dick sent his cat, but
he ran away owing to ill treatment below stairs. He was recalled by the Bow Bells.
Dick returned to find his cat had been sold to the King of Barbary for a large
amount of money, for this he had to rid the land of mice and rats. Dick married his
master's daughter Alice and became thrice Lord Mayer of London.
In fact, Richard was the youngest son of Sir William Whittington of
Pauntley in Gloucestershire and duly became a merchant in London, having married Alice,
the daugher of Sir Ivo Fitzwaryn. He became very wealthy, the richest merchant of
his day; he was made Mayor of London in 1397-1398, 1406-1407, and 1419-1420. He died
in 1423 leaving his vast wealth for charitable and public purposes.
The part of the cat in the story can be explained. Richard traded in
coals brought to London in cats (a type of sailing vessel) and that is the confusion with
(Fr.) achat, "purchase" (a term then used for trading as a profit).
Whatever be the truth, Dick Whittington and his cat are inseperable.
The Cast - (in order of appearance)
King Rat
Robert Skears
Fairy Goodheart
Margaret Morton
Town Crier
Clarence Gill
Idle Jack
David Ashby
Alderman Fitzwarren
Ken Branchette
Captain Wormseye
Robert Skears
Barny
Jack Holt
Dame Gerty Gumweddle
Ian Marcus
Dick Whittington
Lisa Stevens
T.C. the cat
Stevyn Kemp
Butchers Wife
Barbara Mason
Alice Fitzwarren
Laura Sicurello
1st Lady
Ruth Sicurello
2nd Lady
Louise Wilkins
Annie of the "Ship Inn"
Linzi Cottrell
White Faced Wren
Joanna Sicurello
Red Faced Wren
Danielle Leedale
El Fred the Wazir
Doug Hart
Ozzie the Octopus
Tim Hodges
The Sultan of All You Can See
Clarence Gill
London's Pride
Linzi Cottrell Doug Hart Danielle Leedale Barbara Mason Joanna Sicurello Ruth Sicurello Natalie Stasiuk Stephanie Stasiuk Louise Wilkins Sophie Wise
Beau & The Belles
Rosina Andrews Angela Devine Tim Hodges Jessica Lowe Katie Lowe Sarah Swaby Sian Whiles Emma Wilson
The Cat's Whiskers
Bass Guitar
Nick Dytham
Clarinet/Saxophone
Mike James
Percussion
David Rowles
Piano
Stuart Pemberton
Production Team
Director
Ken Branchette
Assitant Director
Myra Tiffin
Musical Director
Stuart Pemberton
Choreography
Myra Tiffin
Stage Manager
Malcolm Boss
Lighting Design
Martin Putman
Set Design
Ken Branchette
Construction
Malcolm Boss Phillip Hurrell Neil Barnett James Mason Paul Mason
Painting
Ken Branchette Barbara Mason Lynne Quigley
Stage Crew
The MKAOS ACME Stage Crew
Lighting & Sound
Martin Putman assisted by David Howard
Dave
King
James
Mason
Make-up
Lynne Quigley
Fight Arranger
Sam Martin
Prompters
Beaula Fish Chris Marston
Properties
Sue Boss assisted by Catherine Barnett
Wardrobe Manager
Costume
John Hill (Hinckley) Ltd
Printing
City Print (Milton Keynes) Ltd
Booking Office
Gill Coyne
Front of House Manager
Jean Ashby
Front of House Staff
Friends of MKAOS
Company Photographs
Robert Skears
Performance Photographer
Norman Kent
Acknowledgements
Bletchley Community Centre
BMC Vehicle Hire, George Street, Bletchely
The Management and Staff of Stantonbury Campus Theatre
Wollard-Tiffin School of Ballet & Theatre Arts
Borneo Martell Solicitors
Fabric World
FM 103 Horizon
