Look Behind You

All That Glitters

Look Behind You

by Daniel Wain

Strut and Fret Theatre Company at the Theatre at the Tabard, Chiswick until 3^rd February

Review by Heather Moulson

Who can resist an adult pantomime?  (The promos warn, “Look Behind You contains lots of Pussy, Dick… and Nuts”!)  Revived and updated from its earlier incarnation in 1999, and now with nice references to the powerful Tik-Tok, the updated revival gives further insights to a very traditional production genre, both onstage and offstage.   Hiding under the greasepaint is a very strong drama.

A jaded professional theatre company is staging a well-worn panto Dick Whittington in the crumbling Britannia Theatre, culture centre of a rundown seaside town.

A powerful entrance by Cait Hart Dyke as Fairy Bowbells, wider known as the former Page Three star Camille Crabbe, welcomes us with earthy rhyming couplets and bawdy humour.  Now, here’s an impressive beginning.

She is soon joined by Mia Skytte as the evil Queen Rat cum worldly thespian Norma Bailey, who unravels herself nicely as the play progresses.  Skytte has great stage presence and is highly watchable.  Annabelle Miller, as the hardworking stage manager, Maggie Dunn, gives an edgily witty and cynical performance, and carries a huge load for the doomed theatre of the play.

Olivia Jackson, as the privileged assistant stage manager who also goes on stage as Tommy the Cat, conveys real energy, as she builds up to a confrontation with the demanding Camille.  Relationships and interactions feature strongly in this vibrant piece, exemplified by a strange bedfellow friendship between Camille and Norma that is genuinely touching.   The exchange between conniving chorus member Suzanne Brett and Robin Eldridge, the established actor playing Alderman Fitzwarren, reveals a lot about the business.  The roles are skilfully played by Ellie Armstrong and Stephen Pratt.

As the hapless pop star Finn Caffrey aka Dick Whittington, Matt Tester is charming and sincere.  Daniel Wain, as Sarah the Cook, the alter ego of Sam Nancarrow, is as highly watchable as always, with his grotesque make-up and costumes.  However, his despair resonates from underneath the garishness.  Wain is a strong presence with or without pantomime regalia. 

Caroline Ross as Bernie Bigelow, on the verge of a breakdown, has a strong homicidal rapport with co-star Nicholas May, who has the role of Idle Jack.  Oliver Redpath is excellent as the earnest yet egotistical thespian.   Their relationship takes time, but becomes sharp as a razor.  Anna Piggot as Alice Fitzwarren, the wary TV Weather reporter, Jessie Musto, has the right amount of resignation and disillusionment. 

I lost my heart to Pistachio, the monkey, a promising performer whom I hope to see more of in the future.   

The plot moves along nicely with a pacy direction by Barney Hart Dyke, who has worked successfully with Wain in the past.   The lighting, designed by Rich Evans, is sensitive.  The dressing room scenes lit by bulbs particularly capture an intimacy.  The set, also designed by Evans, has an authenticity and creates the right amount of tension and theatrical atmosphere.   Costumes by Lesley Alexander and Juanita Al-Dahhan are simply stunning. 

Entertaining and satirical Look Behind You is funny but thoughtful, as it tastes the sweet and the sour of provincial theatre.  Yet there is an overarching message, an allegory of how we are today, looming … behind you.  Take a look.

Heather Moulson, January 2024

Photography by Marc Brenner