Jack and the Beanstalk

Producer & Director Chrissy Brimacombe

Choreography Chrissy Brimacombe

Solo Dance Eve Evans 

Artistic Director Michele Sanders

The Players certainly gave this first night audience a super evening of entertainment down in Old Windy Bottom with this well written pantomime. With a strong story line, the action flowed smoothly and logically from scene to scene, and there were a host of typical panto characters for the members to get their teeth into. 

The musical introduction gave a flavour of the songs to come, Grandpa took to the stage to outline the story, and introduce the characters to his grandchildren, as the “Goodie” and the “Baddie” waited in the shadows of their respective wings.

Fairy Sugardust and Picalilli were a perfect foil for each other, one in a sparkly dress with glitzy blue spectacles and headdress, the other in typical witch’s garb with a very pointy long nose.

The curtains opened to the village marketplace, with a fantastic vegetable stall USR, and a rousing opening number. It was good to see youngsters in the chorus and their Line Dance later in the Act was a particular highlight. 

The story unfolded in time-honoured tradition and there were some super performances and memorable moments.

Jack was played in a slightly coy but charming style and was well partnered by an attractive and flirty Princess Charlotte.

The King and Queen made a very regal pair, their co-ordinating costumes were superb, and the superior height of Her Majesty added to the fun!

The experience of Dame Dotty shone through having played the role before, and Simple Simon, a complete newcomer to the stage, did exceptionally well.

The Broker’s Men, Snatchett and Scarper were great fun and very well played. Their costumes were spot on, with matching bowler hats and wigs, and their rendition of Money Money went down a treat.

In this production Buttermilk the cow was played by just one performer, sensible considering the limitations of the stage, again another lovely costume and she won the support and sympathy of the audience straight away.

A terrific performance came from Rancid the Ratman with a spikey wig and five o’clock shadow, the initial impression was of a bit of an adolescent lad, it took a while to see through the disguise – well done!

It was good too to see a younger member of the group confidently taking on the role of Humphrey the Lord Chancellor.

Act I ended with everyone on stage for another chorus number as Jack prepared to climb the beanstalk and rescue the Princess who had been kidnapped and taken to the Giant’s Castle in the sky. This gave opportunity for the junior members of the cast who were leaving at the interval to come down front and take a bow!

 

Act II opened on the Giant’s Castle to the strains of Monster Mash, complete with the Giant’s Minions!

Everyone seemed to have made it up the Beanstalk to help Jack rescue the Princess, and some great traditional “panto business” followed! 

The “ghost” scene with the Black Rat encouraged lots of audience participation and the ever popular “Job Song”, complete with props, went down a storm!

The huge Giant’s head complete with red hair and whiskers was most impressive together with the mellifluous tones, reminiscent of a past Stage Manager, as he laid out his cruel intentions!

Of course everything worked out happily in the end! The Giant was slain, Jack won his Princess, and Piccalilli got her just deserts!

The finale was simply stunning, as the King would say “a result”! All the cast were in shades of blue and silver, with the Dame in a striking Abba outfit, as said all the costumes were excellent throughout.

Lighting and sound complemented the action, and everything came together to make an excellent and very warmly received production – well done!

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.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.