REVIEW:The Brighton Alternative Pantomime: Dick (Remixed)

There are three types of panto: good, bad, and panto. Dick is gloriously, unapologetically the latter – panto in all its chaotic, sequined, absolutely shambles magnificence.

The Brighton Alternative Pantomime is an institution, and this certainly felt like an institution from the off – the kind where the inmates run the asylum and we're glad they do. Adult panto should be two things: fun and filthy. Dick ticks every box and fondles a few more.

Paul-Lawrence Thomas has herded this particular collection of Diva's, cats and rats into something wonderful, steering (veering?) the production down an old school Brighton drag back alley with vintage feels. This is Dick as we've seen it before – a revisit, like shagging an ex. You know what you're gonna get, no surprises, but it's a good fun ride with familiar positions that still satisfy.

Jason Lee sang his little fairy heart out, pairing up with Sam Solace on some blasting duets that raised more than just spirits. Solace's vocal brassiness cut through the Ironworks like a knife through butter – or should I say, like Dick through... well, you get the picture. When these two triple threats combined forces, the rafters trembled. Lee also responsible for the polished musical arrangements.

Rose Garden threw wonderful shade and evil Kween vibes as the nefarious villain, her sharp tongue matching those even sharper heels. The old girl knows how to work a room – and a cape – with a camp delicious malevolence that makes you want to boo while secretly rooting for her complete and utter triumph.

Lovinia Belle & Mary O'Kart often stole the show with their superb physical comedy and quick-timed double act. My eyes were glued to them whenever they graced the stage – a daft and delightful pairing with some perfect costume changes that had the timing of a Swiss watch and the subtlety of a brick through a window. Pure, unfiltered clutch-my-pearls panto gold.

Baroness Mary Golds served Dame realness with a capital D-A-M-E. Costume after costume brought finger snaps from the audience – and Gold knows how to move a frock with perfect panto deadpan that would make Les Dawson weep with pride. When a costume malfunction hit during a delightfully choreographed chaotic 'If I were not upon the stage' song she turned it into comedy panache. Some of her best costumes barely had a few minutes on stage. She served good frock tonight, and we ate it up. Gold created most of the costumes in this production, along with their own fabulous frocks.

Sandra was Sandra – but rather well-behaved, still filthy but funny and warm, catching some superb audience put-downs with the ease of someone who's been working rooms since before half the audience was born. She kept us thrilled with her traditional off-kilter approach, proving that sometimes the best Dick is the one that knows all the old tricks.

Dancers & Chorus Anthony Kirk & Max Conway, delivered full octane eye candy who bumped, ground, high-kicked, jump-split, gyrated and generally raised the temperature every time they hit the stage. Choreographed with humor that allowed them to show off their considerable talents, proof that sometimes you need a bit of athletic distraction between the fanny gags.

Davina Sparkle seeped their own deadpan approach to acting and humor aplenty – like a potty-mouthed Mrs. Slocombe with better wigs and worse inhibitions. The audience enjoyed them.

The live band – Shaz D & Tom Earl – offered engaging foundation for the endless unfolding panto antics, supporting off-script ad-libs, occasional trip-ups and missed cues with just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek musical accompaniment. Panto should be like this: slightly dangerous, a missed cue deftly turned into a running joke.

Full cast and credits here

The plot had a scatological focus, riffing on the hideous endless Water Company sewage scandals that have plagued the UK these last few years. Could it do with a trim? Perhaps. This was a long Dick. Some jokes haven't aged as well as Sandra, particularly the repeated use of female genitalia as comedy fodder, which feels beneath the cleverness this cast is capable of. Perhaps that's part of some ancient tradition? This was my first Brighton Alternative Panto experience but not my first adult Queer panto....

This is panto that throws endless jokes, puns, slapstick, songs, costumes and utterly daft plot twists at you until something sticks. And plenty does. The Ironworks delivers top-drawer production values – lighting and music that elevate. Allan Cardew's produced something fun, chaotic, and quintessentially Old Skool Gay. That it's supporting three amazing city LGBTQ+ charities (Lunch Positive, The Sussex Beacon, and the Alzheimer's Society) is another excellent reason to grab Dick while you can.

Verdict: This long Dick delivers a filthy romp through Brighton's panto underworld which delivers plenty of laughs.

Dick runs, two shows a day, at Ironworks Studios, Brighton until February 1st. Tickets available online or at the venue.