Jack and the Beanstalk

This Dave Jeanes version of this traditional pantomime contains all you would hope for in its strong characters, jokes, some silliness, magic beans and a pantomime cow.

Imogen Humphries opens the action as ‘Squire Trebormint’ portraying the ruthless money grabbing landlord well, in his attempts to collect rent from ‘Mrs Spratt’ played as any traditional Dame should be, by Director Kingsley Roberts. As the only ‘adult’ in the company, his natural strength held the production together but never overpowered the Wymsical Debut and Spotlight youngsters in claiming their share of the stage. Even mistakes were hilarious and forgivable!

In fact there was no stopping Ben Fairest as ‘Jim Spratt’, whose smiling personality made an excellent impression also handling the comedy well. Brother ‘Jack Spratt’ played by Libby Fry also excelled and captured the heart of ‘Jill Trebormint’ a bright and talented Lottie Hill who also sang well, particularly her number in Act 2.

The Squires accomplices ‘Sharon’ and ‘Tracy’ played by Annabel Browne and Beth Hughes respectively spoke up well and their scene with the money borrowed by Jim and Jack to pay the rent was funny.  Natalie Seyler was suitably slippery as ‘Slippery Sid’ exchanging beans for ‘Clara’ the cow (Rose Shepherd & Catalina Jalim) who dispensed a carton of milk (still in date), chocolates and milk stout in another funny scene.

There were some very nice musical interludes throughout the production, under the direction of Stephen Watkins and choreography by Britt Needham; including an effective fairy ballet sequence, a company number ‘Bring it all Back’ by S club 7, an opening Act 2 company number with acrobatics Lottie’s number ‘Hushabye Mountain’ and the closing company number ‘On a Wonderful Day like Today’ .

Briar Munn also gave a very notable performance as ‘Froggy’  and other good support amongst the named characters was provided by William Fry (plus the legs of Eddie Thomas) as the ‘Giant’, Lilah Payton  as ‘Serena Bean’ and Amee Hall as ‘Cook’. All the Villagers, Fairies and Beanpeople gave their all making full use of the performance space.

The appreciative audience needed little encouragement to join in and we all gave our chuckle muscles a good workout!

 

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