Jack and the Beanstalk

Powick Players returned to the stage after a break of 3 years with a cracking opening night of one of the much-loved traditional pantomimes, not only for a packed house but an appreciative audience. The kingdom is in trouble, Giant Blunderbore and his partner in crime Fleshcreep, are blackmailing the royal family, the rent has been doubled and Dame Dolly is facing eviction and having to sell Daisy the cow, and the Princess is captured and taken to the Giant. How will it all end?

The tempo is clearly set by the devilish Fleshcreep, played with great strength by Julie Merry who immediately engaged with the audience. Matching her was a delightful Fairy Beansprout (Georgia Sproul), dressed in glorious green with an endearing Scottish accent, which the audience was relieved to have on their side. The first of several good ensemble numbers, ‘Footloose’, follows and all move well throughout to some slick choreography by Jade Burton. We meet the sweet Princess Jill played just right by Lottie Gilson and her father Old King Cole – a good comic performance by Kevan Sproul.

In this panto version, Dame Dolly Trott provided a significant link throughout, and this was very ably fulfilled by Ollie Roberts, from his opening number ‘Fabulous, Baby!’ and some quick-fire gags, providing for the more mature members of the audience, as well as the young!  I counted a total of 12 costumes, all well-handled including a slight malfunction with costume 4 which, dealt with in good spirit, was actually hilarious!

Emma White played a confident Jack Trott with a very pleasant voice and Adam Weston was full of animation playing his brother Silly Billy. Adam led ‘Baggy Trousers’ in a great school room scene with the ensemble and I enjoyed the ‘Weakest Link’ sequence. The duet between Jack and the Princess ‘You To Me Are Everything’ was well sung. A good-looking Daisy the cow (Elaine Mather & Chris O’Brien) was introduced to us by 7 of the younger dancers from the Harlequin Stage School, who all performed to their usual high standard and Act 1 closed with an up tempo ‘Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher’.

Fairy Beansprout opened Act 2 leading the girls with ‘I Need a Hero’ and I also liked Jack’s ‘You Will Be Found’ from ‘Dear Evan Hanson’. The Harlequin’s ‘Spider Dance’ devised by Lottie Hunting, was excellent and we were blessed with a real Giant in Keith Finch to add to the atmosphere. The principal’s number ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ was chaotic, crazy and very funny and Silly Billy found his true love with the harpist, well supported by Vicky Kyte. As we hoped, the Princess and Daisy are saved from the Giant and celebrations are rounded off with a rousing ‘Flash Bang Wallop’.

I was again impressed by the set, extended out from the basic stage in the hall with some excellent back cloths and effective lighting. The choice of music fitted in well and the sound was effective. It was obvious a lot of hard work had gone into the set and the creation of many of the costumes, which were superb. All in all, some excellent team work and production by Jake Heaton.

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