Jack and the Beanstalk

Billed as “a giant of a pantomime” this production certainly lived up to this description, with a cast of strong principals well supported by an enthusiastic and energetic chorus and a great mix of adults and youngsters.

The unusual opening behind the gauze with a young child listening to a story followed by the Giant’s Song, was certainly different and looked effective, but felt just that little bit too long as the audience waited in eager anticipation for the action to begin. However, when the gauze went out the lights came up and the well-known tale began to unfold, in traditional panto style.

Fairy Sugarsnap, played with an amiable West Country lilt, immediately formed a rapport with the audience, and her solo Look to the Rainbow, in the second half, was well performed and showing the audience’s  appreciation After an excellently choreographed opening number, the usual expected characters began to introduce themselves. 

Jack of course was starry eyed with his sights set on Princess Melody, and the role was confidently performed in traditional Principal Boy style, complete with the “thigh slap”!

His brother Simple Simon was engagingly and naturally played by a younger less experienced performer who managed to encourage plenty of audience participation from the outset with his calls for “Oggi, Oggi, Oggi every time he came on stage!

Dame Dolly Trott made an immediate impact entering in a great opening costume in shades of “Friesian”, “she” bonded quickly with the audience and gave a strong and impressive performance throughout, all three together made for a terrific trio!

The Royal Party made a stately entrance, the King in a perfectly splendid crown, and the Queen extremely regal and very much in charge. The Princess looked lovely, with her costume echoing shades of her mother’s overdress, and was feisty and truthfully played. 

With the Giant actually in control of the Kingdom, tripling the taxes and capturing the Princess, His Majesty leapt uncharacteristically into action announcing  that what he needed was a “hero” to save the day ! To a simply stunned audience he took the stage by storm as he  burst into Holding Out for a Hero, and performed an amazing strip routine, quickly shedding his royal attire down to a very dodgy looking string vest, gold lamé shorts and leopard skin tights! It was a “piece de resistance” but Her Majesty judging from her expression was clearly “not amused”!

Bumble and Ramble the “two twit” tax collectors worked well together and added to all the fun, and Fleshcreep the Giant’s henchman, sporting an imposing “Pinocchio” nose, was suitably  intimidating and scary! 

Daisy the Cow was just delightful, the milking parlour scene was well received and the “business” with the exchange of “gold coins” smoothly done.

In addition to the usual well-loved and expected panto banter and “its behind you”  there were some excellent “extras” in this production – oh yes there were! 

The “play on words” chocolate routine with the Dame and the shopping trolley was particularly well performed, and setting the audience participation song  Chick , Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken early on, with the hen and the golden egg, made for a refreshing change.  

The spooky skeleton ghostbusters dance was a great routine and overall, there were good scenes “out front” to cover the necessary changes taking place behind without losing any continuity of action.

The castle interior was impressive, all the cloths were striking and well painted, and the Beanstalk made a great impact as it emerged SL from inside the well.

A lot of thought and attention to detail had obviously been given to the well-co-ordinated costumes, and the Dame’s gold boots were just divine! 

The sound and lighting were excellent and effective, and certainly enhanced the production.

Of course all ended happily ever after, the Giant got his comeuppance, or rather his “come downance”, Jack got his Princess and the golden egg ensured the end to financial strife – oh yes it did!

A delightful highlight before the finale was when the two young ladies playing Daisy the Cow took centre stage and simply shone as they displayed their fantastic footwork! Their moves were just “moovellous” – well done!

Reach for the Sky made for a great company exit number and the surprise explosion of “party poppers” at the end just added to the warm atmosphere.  The enthusiastic applause was well deserved by all the cast and backstage team  for an excellent  production, and a most enjoyable evening.

 

 

 

 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what they see at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance, and it is inevitable that their assessment will be affected by that knowledge.J

The N.O.D.A. Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular the performance viewed.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre.

It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

 

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