DICK WHITTINGTON
AND
WONDERCAT

Book, music & lyrics by David Wood

First produced in 1981 by the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, and subsequently presented by many amateur companies.

In David Wood’s version of the story, a ‘play-within-a-play’ technique is used.

The townsfolk of London gather to greet Sir Richard Whittington on his installation as Lord Mayor. A voice of dissent in the crowd belongs to a young boy who resents the acclaim given to ‘a wealthy nob like him’, who is unlikely to help ordinary folk.

The crowd explain to the boy that this Lord Mayor is different and has helped many ordinary people; they then tell the story of Dick Whittington, and the boy plays the young Dick.

He wins the friendship of young Alice, and becomes involved with the Fitzwarren family and store, a brace of swash-buckling pirates, the lovable Wondercat, and a traditional ‘dame’ character – Bertha the Cook.

Dick’s story takes him from the depths of despair and disgrace to his triumph, with Wondercat, defeating the rats infesting the home of the Queen of the Barbary Coast, who turns out to have been educated in England!

A minimum cast of fourteen is required, doubling as necessary. A larger cast is possible, and a chorus of children is recommended.

“Master of the panto David Wood has done it again … a huge success … the children loved it … the whole show was just magic.”
Recorder Advertiser

“A panto with everything … colour, excitement, pathos, a lot of humour, and a wonderful understanding of children … brilliant children’s author David Wood has done it again … a triumph … the author’s clear understanding of youngsters’ minds.”
Thurrock Gazette

The play and piano/vocal score are published by Samuel French Ltd., a Concord Theatricals Company. First Class Professional & Foreign Rights : Casarotto Ramsay Ltd. UK Repertory Rights : Samuel French Ltd., a Concord Theatricals Company. UK Amateur Rights : Samuel French Ltd., a Concord Theatricals company. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk. customerservices@concordtheatricals.co.uk.