Jack and the Beanstalk

This was my first visit as District Rep to see St Paul’s Players in action and my first pantomime of 2020...so I was hoping for an interesting and entertaining evening – I was not disappointed!  I have spent the best part of forty years being heavily involved in pantomime... both as an actor and on the production / staging side. Plus I’ve had the privilege, for the last twenty four consecutive years, of playing my societies pantomime dame...’Oh no you Haven’t – Oh yes I have’...so I think I can say with some honesty, that ‘pantomime’ has become part of my life!

‘Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum’ ...as soon as we hear those words I think we all know the story behind the phrase ... this version, written by Alan P. Frayn, follows the usual course... ‘Jack’, the son of a widowed mother, runs a family dairy business in ‘Windy Bottom’ with his brother ‘Simple Simon’. ‘Buttermilk’ their one and only cow ceases to produce milk, so in a desperate attempt to raise some much needed money, ‘Buttermilk’ is to be sold. In this version, it is ‘Simon’ who is tasked with taking/selling ‘Buttermilk’ at market, whilst ‘Jack’ falls in love with the ‘Kings’ daughter – ‘Princess Charlotte’.  ‘Simon’ sells ‘Buttermilk’ for a bag of beans to the nasty, ‘Rancid the Ratman’ an employee of the ‘Giant’.  ‘Charlotte’ the King’s daughter is kidnapped and along with ‘Buttermilk’ is taken to Giant’s Castle to become the ‘Giants’ next meal. Simons returns with the beans (‘magic beans’) but ‘Mother’ is not happy and throws the beans away.... the result, a Giant Beanstalk grows!  ‘Jack’ and more or less the rest of the cast, climb the beanstalk... ‘Jack’ rescues, ‘Buttermilk’ and ‘Princess Charlotte’, they find the ‘hen that lays the golden eggs and the harp’ and they all return home! ‘Jack’ marries ‘Princess Charlotte’ and they all live happily ever after!

It was obvious from the start and throughout the entire production that Graham Cohen (Director) and Jane Harrison (Producer) had gathered together a great cast who had worked their ‘socks off’ to produce a great traditional family panto. We had a phenomenal amount of great ‘one liners’ which generated a huge amount of laughter; we had ‘slap stick routines’, we had comedy emanating from so many sources, this was always going to be enjoyable evening... so well done to everyone, be ever so proud!

Without doubt the ‘show stealer’ for me was ‘Simple Simon’ played expertly by Gareth Mabon.  From his first entrance Gareth looked completely comfortable in this role and had an immediate rapport with the audience which was so natural and believable.  Gareth just oozed stage presence, his comedic timing was sublime, his facial expressions and mannerisms... wonderful.  Congrats young man on a job well done! 

‘Dame Dotty Dimple’ (the ‘Hotty that was Dotty’) was well played by Dax Owen.  Again, Dax looked totally comfortable in this role. ‘Spot on Comic’ timing, good interaction with the audience, great costumes, all the attributes needed for this role... well done!  

Loved the comedy duo our ‘Brokers Men’.... ‘Snatchet’ and Scarper’ played by Leanne Romney and David Greenfield. Individually good... together... ‘what a team’!  Their chemistry and humour was infectious; stage presence aplenty, great comedic timing; they just made these roles their own.... well done you two!

‘Jack’ and ‘Princess Charlotte’ were played well by Robyn Burns and Marie Booth respectively.  Both gave well judged performances and looked totally comfortable throughout... loved their rendition of ‘Love is an Open Door’ ... well done ladies!

Our ‘baddies’... ‘Rancid the Ratman’ and ‘Piccalilli’ were played well by Ryan Norse and Siobhan Edge....both appeared to revel in the ‘boos and hisses’ coming from the audience and were perfect fits for these two roles...... well done!

Where ever you have a ‘baddie’ you must always have a ‘goodie’ and in ‘Fairy Sugardust’ we had just that!  Jade Hiatt looked totally comfortable with this role and produced a wonderful Fairy Sugardust.  She looked the part, had great ‘stage presence’ ... her rendition of ‘Holding out for a Hero’ was a highlight for me. Well done, young lady.

King Crumble and Queen Apricot were played well by Keith Brian and Jacqui Brian respectively. 

Abigail Roseben played ‘Harpist’ and Debbie Leyland played ‘Humprey’ which leaves us with just one character... ‘BUTTERMILK’ our ‘Pantomime Bovine’ played to perfection by Becca Hilton and Harry Cohen. 

Completing the cast were forty five amazing junior dancers... well done to each and every one of you...you worked so hard and your efforts certainly enhanced the production. Congrats to Lorraine Robinson (Choreographer) and Pearl Williams (Assistant Choreographer) for your time spent devising relevant and appropriate dance routines for these talented young people.

Can I also congratulate Steve Blundell (Stage Manager), Alan Leyland, Sam Heyes, and Jill Heeks (Assistants – Stage Managers) and their back stage crew for all their ‘pushing and pulling’... quick/smooth changes add so much to a performance and to Howard Bates (Scenic Artist) for his ‘artist endeavours’... well done!

Sound (Natalie/Joanna Sweet) and Lighting (Jamie Flavell, Oli Martin and Kirsty Lofthouse) was excellent throughout...congrats folks!  Costumes (Lisa Williams, Lisa Cohen and Judith Armstrong) were suitable and appropriate for the production and looked great throughout as were the ‘Props’ (Liz Blundell and Lily Armstrong).

Thanks you so much for inviting my wife and I and for your hospitality throughout.   We look forward to many more visits to Adlington to see St Pauls Players in action.  Happy New Year to each and everyone one of you... have a wonderful 2020.

 

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