Jack and the Beanstalk

ONE of these days, when the weather is a lot warmer than it is now, I shall go outside and plant a tin of baked beans, fully expecting that the next morning there will be a beanstalk growing up into the clouds. But I’ve remembered something - I’d need magic beans, and those I just don’t have. They do have them in this very jolly panto though, plus a host of other ingredients that, when mixed together, make for a smashing evening.

This is a company that seems to have an unending supply of young people who have the confidence and ability to take on leading roles and shine in them - which isn’t to say that those who aren’t quite so young don’t also shine, but you get my drift. Kirsty Danks is excellent as Jack, and is well-matched by Georgina Street as Princess Primrose, while Molly White shows her gift for comedy as Scarper, one of the Broker’s Men.

Other performances are also extremely strong. Paul Berry comes close to stealing the show as Simple Simon - he has a real rapport with the audience, particularly when remonstrating with us for failing to shout out ‘Don’t be simple, Simple Simon’ whenever he appears. In my case it wasn’t so much a case of forgetting to shout out, more that I couldn’t remember what I was supposed to say!

Tim Gaskell is a splendid Dame Dotty Dimple, Wayne Priestley and Sandy Simpson are lovely as the slightly batty King Hubert & Queen Hyacinth and Richard Pratt is delightful as Humphrey, their equerry. Veronica Johnstone is suitably daft as Snatchet, the other of the Broker’s Men, while Sharon Street is a very creepy Rancid the Ratman.

Pam Berry looks lovely as Fairy Sugardust and sings beautifully - although a few more smiles wouldn’t have gone amiss, particularly on her entrances - while Sue Trotter is clearly in her element as the wicked witch Piccalilli. And how could I leave out the very endearing Buttermilk?

There’s a good, animated chorus, a great small band, smashing sets and costumes, lots of fun and audience participation, well-known songs – and at only just over two hours is just the right length.

But without wishing to be a harbinger of doom, I do want to mention something you may have overlooked. Everything ends happily because you say the giant is dead, killed when Jack chops down the beanstalk. How do you know he’s dead? We don’t see him fall so he may possibly be floating down to earth on a large cloud. Be afraid. Be very afraid.