Jack and the Beanstalk

The set for this popular favourite was delightful, featuring stunning backdrops of the village and the Giant’s castle. Likewise, the costumes and props were plentiful and of high quality. I must mention the Giant who appeared upstage left, much to the audience's delight. He was impressively crafted and skillfully handled, truly enhancing the magic of the performance. I also appreciated the show title, which featured the familiar turquoise and gold of a wellknown baked beans brand; a nice touch. Lighting and sound were also very professional.

Simple Simon (George) was full of energy and had a great rapport with the audience. He was also a talented dancer and singer, managing his interactions with the young people who joined him on stage effectively.
 
Dame Dotty Dimple (Mike) was very likeable although I think I would have liked to have seen some more interaction and ad-libbing with the audience. However, she was good fun and gave an enjoyable performance.

Jack (Madeleine) was an exceptionally confident performer, showcasing impressive singing and dancing abilities. S/he radiated a good energy and delivered a charismatic performance.

Princess Charlotte (Phoebe) was a delightful vocalist and moved well. She collaborated effectively with Jack and was an engaging performer.

King Crumble (Simon) and Queen Apricot (Cassidy) were a good pairing who worked well together.

Piccalilli the Witch (Victoria) had a good energy but unfortunately we often struggled to catch what she was saying. Her witchy cackle was impressive, but at times it overpowered the dialogue. Nevertheless, she truly embraced the character and delivered an excellent performance as the baddie.

Snatchet (Joseph) and Scarper (Andy) formed a fantastic comedy duo, maximizing their moments on stage, just like Fairy Sugardust (Hannah), who articulated her lines clearly.

Humphrey (Natalie) dressed as a flamboyant Georgian dandy, complete with powdered wig and white face, had great stage presence. They moved around the stage with beautiful deportment and performed with aplomb. Very well done.

Rancid the Ratman (Tom) was a superb character actor who embodied the role with realconviction. Another excellent performer.

The Ensemble were really excellent in this production. They were thoroughly rehearsed and their precision was commendable. Very well done on your hard work; it really paid off. There was some lovely choreography, complemented by a really wonderful variety of songs and styles. I especially liked the hoedown number ‘Ratlin’ Bog’ and the beautiful dance with the girls dressed in white with fans and flowing fabric, which was highly effective. The soloist at the start was a beautiful dancer.

The small band was perfect and it is lovely to have live music. The solo singing was well rehearsed and the ensemble sang with confidence.

All in all this was well directed, slick, professional panto and well up to the standard one has come to expect from FMTC. A few more unscripted jokes and spontaneous interaction between the characters would have gone down well but that didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the performance. Well done to all involved.

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