South Yorkshire Times, January 9th, 1960
Gay Panto at Wombwell
A Civic Reception for “Dick Whittington”
A feast of traditional pantomime is providing breezy after-Christmas entertainment for hundreds of local people who have watched “Dick Whittington and his Wonderful Cat” at the Empire theatre, Wombwell, this week. The show has been presented once nightly, will be repeated at 7.15pm tonight (Friday) and there will be three shows tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm, 6pm and 8.30pm
Mondays opening performance was given civic support by the presence of Mr. J. Wade, Chairman of Wombwell Urban Council, with several other members, and the Clerk (Mr. F. Potter). At the end of the show, Mr. Wade was invited onto the stage and after praising the cast for a “wonderful show” was handed a handsome bouquet of tulips and daffodils to take home to Mrs. Wade who was unable to attend. At a private ceremony show general manager, Mr. J. M. Wright, handed a bouquet to a very old friend, Mrs. J. K. Campbell of Hough Lane, Wombwell, whose first husband the late Mr. Stewart built Wombwell Empire Theatre.
Welcome Return
Making a welcome return to the town after an absence of 36 years is Mr. Wright known either as “Joe” or “Melvyn” who supervises the production. Mr. Wright was formerly manager of the old Hippodrome Theatre in Hough Lane, Wombwell. He left Wombwell in 1924 to manage a Barnsley cinema and shortly afterwards went to Skegness where he has since remained. He has made something of a name for himself in show business, and his talented company has had a successful run at Skegness. He told the audience that it had long been his ambition to bring a stage show to Wombwell. The audience gave well-deserved applause when it became known Mr. Wright was a Wombwell man.
Free admittance was given to Monday’s performance to some sixty aged people – 30 members of Wombwell Darby and Joan Club and 30 retired miners who were members of Wombwell Main Veteran Miners’ Institute. The pantomime was billed as a feast of merriment for all between the ages of three and 93 – and this was not far out. A box of chocolates was presented to the oldest person in the house – a woman of 86. There was also a large box of chocolates for the holder of a programme bearing a proverb, and this also was won by an elderly woman.
Slick and Polished
The performance is slick and polished from beginning to end. The team of young dancing girls – the “Whittington Belles” – is as glamorous as any seen previously in the town and their precision dancing is a joy to behold. Particularly graceful is a charming ballet scene. Tall, dark and vivacious is Bettina Richman as Dick Whittington and she has a perfect foil in Sylvia Valentine as principal girl, Alice. Sylvia’s beautiful singing voice is one of the highlights of the show and another pleasing singing voice is that of Dora Haggart, as the Princess Zola. Bobby Rich is a confident Captain Goodlad. The children in the audience immediately fell in love with Idle Jack, admirably played by Jay Martel and Dame Sarah is amusingly portrayed by Frankie Evans. There are some clever speciality acts by Idris and Belle, (the international Mad Hatters), Roy Mack (balance superb), Jay Martel (musical mirth), Al Rogers (Yorkshire comedian – and Marrie Lynn who plays the part of the cat aerobatic beauty). The show is lavishly mounted and costumed. Another pantomime “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” will be staged at Wombwell Empire Theatre next week.