Dick Turpin – Your Reviews
December 10, 2008Have you seen Dick Turpin yet? Did you laugh outrageously at Berwick and the Gang? Were you shocked by the silliness of the costumes? Was there any sign of a plot? At all? Even a hint of a plot?
Let us know with your own reviews here!
Brilliant as ever! All the hard-hitting social realism, biting political satire and colourful lights we’ve come to expect from York Theatre Royal’s panto! I particularly enjoyed the duelling songsheets, the madcap costume changes, the trip to *** ****** ********* **** (Amended – Admin) and the long-awaited return of Suzy Cooper! David Leonard remains York’s finest actor with his relentless flamboyance and George Sanders snarl… Berwick Kaler, on the other hand, is something more than an actor. He is a candle-snuffer. And more than that, a genuine icon. In retrospect, it was a shame not to see Berwick lose his wig this year… Still, you can’t have everything! Full marks!
Looking forward to seeing the Panto this. If last years is anything to go by, we are in for a treat.
http://www.pryordurkin.com/2008/06/28/sinbad-the-sailor-pantomime-by-berwick-kaler-at-the-theatre-royal-york/
this was my first time watching these guys and they were amazing! it had all the things you need for a panto especially a great dame and brilliant baddy who of course must be thwarted at the end by the good guys. absolutly amazing guys! see you next year!
( it was strange …i dressed similar to the bad guy you had a brilliant costume. and i want those red checked boots the dames son had on.)
I returned to York to see this panto after a break of nearly ten years, this time taking my 6 year old daughter with me. Absolutely superb and relatively unchanged from when I was young. The provision of booster seats for the children was really nice and meant my daughter could see everything on the stage even though we were in the third row of the upper circle. Berwick was wonderful as Betty Turpin, David Leonard is a fantastic, loveable baddie. Plenty of audience participation – he’s behind you, oh yes he is etc. which my daughter loved and I was pleased to see the sing along at the end was still there. We even managed to get a wagon wheel – the first I’ve ever had! Only one criticism – the audience used to join in with the Babbies and Bairns song when I was young but it was just played before the show this year – bring back the joining in with that song please! Keep going, Berwick and co, we want to see you again next year!
This was the first time we have been to a panto at York Theatre Royal and I have to say it was brilliant. We all (there were 7 of us!!) it was good family entertainment and brilliant fun. Berwick you are a brilliant dame, and obviously enjoy what you do, keep it up. Having seen a panto at the other theatre (dare I mention the Grand Opera House) we much prefer the atmosphere at York Theatr Royal. We will see you next year.
We were at the performance on Sat.27th Dec. Absolutely fantastic. Berwick Kaler, David Leonard and Martin Barass work so well together, it is an joy to watch. My friend who comes from York originally came to the panto (2007 ) for the first time in many years with her husband and “children” ( 16& 19 ) they loved it so much they came to see Dick Turpin and were not disappointed.Keep up the good work I hope you all work together for many years, here is to the 2009 panto.
Yes Im off on saturday 17th for the 11th time 6 yrs on the trot (dare I say it I missed 2 yrs)I will expect nothing but the best. When he does leave it will be a great loss to York and pantomine as a whole.
Another load of glorious rubbish from our favourite panto-people! They just get better and better and this anniversary year was superb. Also, Berwick not only read out the congratulations card we had sent in for my son’s wedding, but came down into the audience to give the bride a kiss and – - – - a golden wagon wheel (da daaaaah). Not many wedding memory boxes contain a wagon wheel convered in gold tinsel and hanging on the end of a gold ribbon! Thanks for that Berwick, you old softie – and thanks for all the laughs.
ps. wonderful to see Suzie back – she was terrific.
Great Show, credit to the theatre. Althought i didnt think the set and costume were up to the usual standard!!
This panto gets better every year!! Me and my family have been coming to York Theatre Royal’s panto for the past 12 years! We still love it!! We love the fact that there was more of a focus on the musical theatre side of things and we loved seeing suzy back again!!! Berwick, Martin, Suzy and David make the panto their own and deserve alot of credit! Once again Berwick has written a great sript that involves the whole of the cast and audience!! My 6 year old cousin especially loved the water scene! Shame that Berwicks wig didnt come off this year always a big highlight of the show! Can’t wait for next years annual rubbish!! See you next year!
If consistency is a sign of quality then Berwick Kaler has it all. We returned as mentioned in an earlier comment to see Dick Turpin last night and it was brilliant. The kids even managed to get the heavily sort after Waggon Wheel. You can read our full review here:
http://www.pryordurkin.com/2009/01/11/dick-turpin-pantomime-york-theatre-royal-with-berwick-kaler/
What a wonderful night out for all the family. I just loved it. This was the first time I had been to the annual panto but it certainly won’t be the last. So professional. The timing fantastic. The ad hoc and quick witted retorts were amazing. Well done everyone, we laughed all the way home and it certainly lifted the current gloom in the economy. Worth every penny. Go and see it before it ends.
this is the 3rd time I have travelled up from London to make the pilgrimage to York to see Berwicks’ panto.
the uplifting panto makes the trek worthwhile! we may not be northerners but the humour translates well, and as Dick Turpin is from Essex this year then we had an ally on stage!…
fantastic chemistry between all the stars! we’re aware of the longevity of Berwick,Martin,David and Suzy Cooper and it’s obvious by the way they connect on stage and perform so naturally together
wonderful to see the pretty, doll like suzy cooper back with her hysterical physical comedy(loved her ‘changing into a vampire’ routine!)… she’s the british version of goldie hawn and meg ryan combined into one! cute, extremely likeable blonde dolly who isn’t afraid to play the fool and dress up like ozzy osbourne!..
the up to date media references were hysterical, but berwicks skill is making everybody in the packed house (what a beauty of a theatre the Royal is!).. feel like they are part of one big, happy family.. amazingly warm atmosphere …
on a freezing cold mid january night, at one of the most depressing times of the year, this panto leaves you happily glowing with warmth and smiles
kudos to all the performers, david leonard seemed to relish his velvet pants (!).. and we detected a little of ‘black adder/rick mayall’ in his performance – he makes a great villian!
dick turpin was highly likeable and looked the part!
We’ve already talked about suzy cooper… who played in a no. of guises!
berwick astounds with his energy and control of his audience
the comic timing of this show is fantastic and when they sense the audience warming to a gag/scene, they know exactly when to pause to let the giggle and clapping commence (watch out for a scene towards the end with a garlic!)
BRILLIANT!.. fabulous!.. we loved it and will be back again !! thank you all of those who performed..
it was a relief to get to the interval, i needed a break because I laughed so much it hurt!!! Didn’t care though, as it was great!!!
I visit the panto every year with my 2 granddaughters and we have been doing that for many years. This “Dick Turpin” is one of the best so far, it was lovely to see such a versatile actress as Susie Cooper back after a short break she is wonderful. The chemistry between Berwick, Martin Susie and David is a joy to watch, they really look to be enjoying themselves as do all the cast. I thought Black Bess did a wonderful job and what a dancer. Long may they continue to entertain us at this dismal time of year.
Thank you all.
this years panto was great i love it id love to meet all the people behind it.as you all must work very har. but yer it was one of the best ones they have done(as my family an i have been going since i was 7 and now 14) with legends such as berwick kaler and martin barrass, david leonard, suzy cooper and vincent gray it one not to miss thanx again for a great pantomine. ext time ill get a wagon wheel!
thank you once again for another load of brilliant rubbish, it gets better and better, its the higlight of my year, i cant wait for next year. My yearly dose keeps me smiling for months. Your all brilliant and its great to have suzy back, David is very sexy and i want to just hug Berwick. this was my 11 year and i am hoping for another 11 at least.
Brilliance pure brilliance
We go every year, and every year it is soooo funny. We all love Berwick Kayler and the Baddie, they’re so funny! The dancing this year was so good, I especially liked the irish lepracorn style dance. All the actors were really good, and thier reactions to some of the jokes were priceless.
Very very good! I would recomend it to anyone and everyone!
what an amazing show i went to see it on the last night, the gags were hilarious. i was wetting my self. cant believe how good it was and now its all over! sometimes i go with a bad outlook and think its never going to beat last years but every year it just gets better and better. i cant wait for next year, berwick said it was going to be humpty dumpty. At last, a plot i know. well i know he fell off a wall and the kings men couldnt put him back together again. as for the rest im sure berwick will come up with some cracking things (pardin the pun) All the best with it. i wait in anticipation!!!