Dick Barton – Special Agent

Gabardine collar up, trilby at rakish angle, intrepid sleuth Dick Barton faces arch enemies Baron Scarheart and Marta Heartburn in a series of exotic, action-packed adventures, aiming to rid the world of evil in the name of decency and patriotism.
Based on the 1940’s BBC radio serial this critically acclaimed and hugely successful play is ‘Deliriously funny’ poking fun at English hearts-of-oak heroics with all the attendant class distinctions and tender regard for the little woman.
It walks a very fine line between homage and camp spoof.

The result is something that captures all the patriotic fervour of Hunhating post-war Britain even as it sends it up rotten.

CAST

Sale & Altrincham Messenger’s Review by Rick Bowen

Mission accomplished – Dick Barton entertains at the Garrick

Dick Barton – Special Agent is quite unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It’s a sort of musical adult pantomime with some Carry On style jokes thrown in. When I say ‘adult’ I don’t mean seedy and you could take granny to see this gloriously daft, cartoonish caper. Being a child of the 60’s the archetypal English hero who inspired the piece means nothing to me, but I could really appreciate what is being sent up here. The sort of Englishman who’s retains a stiff upper lip in a crisis, uses phrases like ‘Johnny foreigner’ and drinks tea from bone china cups. Spoofs can get on your nerves but this Altrincham Garrick production, expertly directed by Charlie Cook, is perfectly pitched, with a strong, animated and energetic cast effortlessly bringing their characters to life and making the most of the fun dialogue. Laura Chandler plays – among other roles – Martha Heartburn, henchwoman of Barton’s arch enemy, Baron Scarheart. For me, this is Laura?s finest performance on this stage to date and her late dad Terry, a stalwart of this theatre, would have been proud of her. Adam Whittle is also very impressive as Barton and his cockney sidekick, Snowy. Dick Barton – Special Agent simply sets out to entertain and it’s definitely a case of mission accomplished in a production that’s a real antidote to the February gloom. Enjoy. Star Rating ★★★★