School Production
Dick Barton Special Agent
Review written by
Bethan Davies Year 13
Dick Barton was originally produced in 1946 as part of a radio series which was full of daring adventures and main character, Special Agent Dick Barton always getting out of tough scrapes. The catchphrase “with one bound, Dick was free!” became popular during this period. It also spawned the famous theme tune called Devil’s Gallop, which was played throughout the Grove School Production of Dick Barton: Special Agent! Even the character Dick Barton acknowledged the famous tune, “Don’t you know me? I have my own show! You know….. (Devil’s Gallop plays…) That one!”
In this version, played with more comedy elements then the previous radio show, Dick Barton is up against the evil Baron Scarheart (raised by wolves on the Rhine border, as every evil villain is) who has a cunning plan to hit the British where it hurts – the tea supply! Yet Dick is a bit busy – he’s just fallen in love with the gorgeous Russian Agent Marta Heartburn and has been in her “playroom” for 3 weeks…
Dick Barton is played by Alfie Chevins who also plays the Cockney Sidekick Snowy White – learning the most lines and having to use a Cockney, Brummie and “Proper” English accents during the show. Jock Anderson, who also has a Scottish “regional” accent, is played by Robbie Bosley, who was both colourful and flashy- and that was just the kilt….
Other great performances came from the evil characters. Ollie Hobbs pulled off a wicked German accent and sung Nessun Dorma without once making me think of Paul Potts. Emma Rich, playing the Russian Minx Marta Heartburn somehow pulled off stunning whilst having a bra on her head. She performed as the heartless lover brilliantly. Yet will she turn Dick to the Dark Side? Will Baron Scarheart find his teddy, Sooty (who, I personally think, stole the show)? And will the Baron defeat Britain? (Devil’s Gallop plays….)
The play involved new and slightly older material, compared to the original Dick Barton whose rules included “sex plays no part in his adventures” (to this I will say only one thing – travel scrabble.) But the cast managed to handle the material brilliantly and play up to the comedy, such as the duo Roger and Wil-Co (Radio Slang for Will Comply… You cannot say we learn nothing in this school!)
A special mention should also go to the BBC announcers. They had to sit on stage almost the whole time acting as narrators and remembered their lines throughout. So altogether a brilliant production from the Grove again.
But what about next time? Will everyone remember their lines? Will the scenery stay up? And will that damn Sooty steal the show again? (Devil’s Gallop plays….)
