Jack And His Big Stalk

Stagedoor Productions adult pantomime Jack And His Big Stalk comes with plenty of warning signs: it says get ready for an evening of slick, fast-moving, farcical fun and bawdy sexual innuendo (“did we mention innuendo?”) – well, they certainly provided that!

The group performed this show last year as Jack And The Beanstalk and Writer/Director Chris Anderton re-worked the show into an adult panto, re-naming the characters and places to satisfy the over active mind, e.g. Upper Chuff and The Giants Back Passage as suitably lurid locations!

The hall was set out cabaret style and the bar staying open ensured good-natured hecklers abounded.

It was good to see the excellently constructed Giant making an appearance again but inappropriately re named (!). This is such a magnificent structure from Dennis Boulderstone, Andrew Parmar, Ben Stanier and Charlotte Parmar which like the monster fish in Jaws was successfully not revealed until the second half, it’s first half presence only the echoing audio of Ben Stanier.

Costumes looked appropriate with the Dame, Eileen Dover having an array of frolicking frocks & colourful outfits.

This society purely put on shows to raise money for a charity they have created called Share A Dream. Among the fantastic acts of generosity they have done is provide treats for bereaved and sick children, also helping out families with Christmas, enabling children not to be left out amongst other deeds of kindness.

The whole evening had a feel-good factor - only two performances is a lot to ask of any amateur actor to give their time freely.

Graham Cohen playing Jack was the driving force for this show with his superb comic timing and (almost) innocent face keeping the pace going throughout.  He was confidently aided by Philip Morris playing the Dame and the Fairy drolly drunk by Teresa Harper. The whole company as well as stage hands getting in on the act made this an enjoyable evening even though we did get wet!

Thank you for the invite and I look forward to the next one.

 

 

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