AUDIENCE participation was a major feature of Wotton Dramatic Society's pantomime this year - and the audience loved it.

From the beginning, people were invited to 'aaah' in sympathy for Richard Whittington whose family fell on hard times in the 1360s in Gloucestershire.

To cheer him up, Clem Studholme as Idle Jack, with an almost constant grin on his face, tells knock,knock jokes; and soon, the audience is joining in an action song.

Karen Downs, as Dick, recovers, and sets a great pantomime tone by slapping her thigh periodically.

Dick is persuaded to go and seek his fortune in London, and the Gloucestershire backdrop, enhanced with realistic sheep, is revealed as made of gauze - 'old London town' appears behind it.

This scenery was painted painstakingly by local artist Jill Stubbs.

Having arrived in the capital city, it's not long before shouts of 'behind you' are heard, warning Alderman Fitzwarren of the presence of Captain Hornpipe.

The obligatory slapstick scene was held in the alderman's kitchen, with very effective water jokes and food being caught and hit into the audience.

John Downs' portrayal of the pantomime dame was successful, a part he hasn't played forsome years.

The version of this traditional story of Dick Whittington, by Wotton residents Anthony Young and Jane Parker, sentDick and his companions to sea.

Dick has been disgraced in the Fitzwarren household, accused of stealing the alderman's daughter's necklace.

Of course, the theft has been a set-up, orchestrated by arch-baddy King Rat played with enthusiastic wickedness by Paul Barber - his aristocratic style, complete with fleur de lys, contrasts with the bungling squeaks of his henchman.

Anthony Young, as Dirty Stinking, elicits amused sympathy with his nervous deference to Vernon Vermin ("Hey Vernon, tell me Vernon..") played by Maureen Rowley who dismisses him cooly.

The Rats stowed away on the sea voyage, paving the way forjokes about rats leaving a sinking ship and drowned rats.

The best song in this production featured the Rats - a 'Thoroughly Nasty' version of 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.'

The Rats also wandered amongst the audience, smelling them for potential food.

There were plenty of local jokes, ranging from stuff about rural post offices to the dame's hairstyle from Maison Stokes, including improvised comments about the scouts in the audience the night I was there.

Other topical jokes were about the Home Secretary 'playing away', and undiscovered America in the 1360s giving rise to 'thank goodness for small mercies.'

Two other performers worthy of a mention are Mary Downs as the Sultana of Raisin, with her sunny dancing and sugary jokes; and Freya Dooley as Alice Fitzwarren, who has good stage presence and timing.

All members of the company worked really hard, giving ten performances of the show which were all sold out.