Author: Benjamin S. Blanchard

<em>Whittington and his Cat, or Harlequin Lord Mayor of London</em> was the 26th Grand Comic Christmas Annual, written by E. L. Blanchard for performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London in 1875. <br /><br />Pantomimes are a favourite Christmas entertainment in England, and in Victorian times were usually written in rhyming couplets. They featured a Principal Boy (played by a girl) and a Dame (played by a man). Over the years they became ever more elaborate with fantastic costumes, huge casts and spectacular transformation scenes. We shall have to leave these to your imagination, dear listener, but we hope that our performance will give you a flavour of Victorian panto.<br /><br />This version of the story of Dick Whittington was produced from a torn and well-used copy of the pantomime script, and a long search online and in various British libraries for the original music, details of which may be found <a href="https://archive.org/download/whittington_cat_1312_librivox/whittington_copyright_info.odt">here</a>.<br /><br />The lyrics of the last song are the cast's curtain call and include the names Wright, Vokes and Coveney, the Vokes family and Harriet Coveney being famous celebrities in Victorian pantomime.<br /><br />Dick arrives in London to search for the fabled "streets paved with gold" and after being reunited with his cat Tom who has followed him, finds the mercer Mr. Fitzwarren (for whom business is not going well), his lovely daughter Alice and the fearsome Dorothy the Cook. Many high jinks ensue. (Summary by Ruth Golding)<br /><br /><strong>Cast:</strong><br /> Dick Whittington - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/2297">Philippa</a><br />Hugh Fitzwarren, mercer - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/4358">Kim Stich</a><br />Alice Fitzwarren, his daughter - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/1474">Jc Guan</a><br />Dorothy the Cook - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/3068">Tom</a><br />Tom the Cat - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/152">Andy Minter</a><br />The Fairy Bluebell - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/92">Cori Samuel</a><br />The Sovereign of Zanzibar - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/5717">Phil Chenevert</a><br />Captain - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/2911">David Lawrence</a><br />First Apprentice - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/2587">Anne Cheng</a><br />Second Apprentice - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/3477">Ikku</a><br />First Girl - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/2592">Anna Roberts</a><br />Second Girl - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/3157">TriciaG</a><br />Third Girl - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/3615">Lucy Perry</a><br />Helmsman - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/1492">mb</a><br />Narrator - <a href="https://librivox.org/reader/2607">Ruth Golding</a><br />Audio edited by Ruth Golding

2Sweet Little Maid

By Amy Ella Blanchard

Dimple, the nine-year-old little girl is accustomed to being always the first. She has Bubbles, a little coloured girl as playmate and servant. One day Dimple’s cousin, Florence comes to visit her and they have a wonderful time together. But then come the rainy days and the two children easily get bored in the house… and that’s how the adventures and troubles begin. (Summary by Diana Majlinger)

3Kittyboy's Christmas

By Amy Ella Blanchard

Is Santa Claus real? Six year old Elinor thinks so as she sends her letter, and persuades her friend Bill to do likewise. On the other side of town, a stray kitten adopts a lonely bachelor. As the two worlds come together, the magic of Christmas is kept alive for all ages in this heart-warming tale.( Lynne Thompson)

4Little Maid Marian

By Amy Ella Blanchard

Not the tale of Robin Hood’s friend, but a charming Victorian age story of Marian, a little girl being raised by her formal but loving grandparents. When the new school teacher comes to stay, she adds warmth and whimsy to Marian’s life and helps guide her to make her most fervent wishes come true. (Summary by TR Love)

5Dear Little Girl's Thanksgiving Holidays

By Amy Ella Blanchard

This book follows the story of Edna as she visits her grandparents' house for Thanksgiving. Edna has pleasant times, and not so pleasant times, but she comes through it all with a greater understanding than she had before. (Summary by ShrimpPhish)