Jack and the Beanstalk

The fun started before the curtains opened at Spennymoor Town Hall and it was so good to see in this financial climate the packed hall alive with excitement as Spennymoor Stage and Song presented their annual pantomime. Director Karen Butler brought a refreshingly creative and witty interpretation of this fanciful tale to the stage without losing any of the traditional British panto components. There was a well-chosen mix of musical numbers, and under the Direction of Martyn Jones and his Town Band, the cast delivered their musical numbers precisely with beautiful harmonies and rhythms. The set was beautifully created with effective painted backcloths depicting the many scenes throughout the show designed and painted by Eric Hickson.  Special mention must be made of the stage team for ensuring slick changes throughout, the technical team for creating good lighting and sound, and finally the wardrobe people for the costumes which were very creative and colourful, enhancing the various characters’ visual appearances.

Without exception the cast were confident in their roles and carried the audience along with them right from the opening chorus number “Happy Days”,  the start to a fantastic evening. Claire Smith impressed as Jack the hero of the story in true principal boy style, with some nice singing and a good bit of thigh-slapping along the way.  I especially liked “Dream a little Dream of Me”. Eric Hickson put in a fine comedy performance as Dame Dolly Durden, Jack’s mother.  Eric is a true professional and certainly knows how to work an audience.  I particularly enjoyed the decorating scene, something I had not seen before, which had the audience in stitches and also the scene with the truth tree. George Watson played the suitably nasty Fleshcreep, and Simple Simon was played by Liam Etherington who was very entertaining and effervescent with great stage presence, who kept the audience hooked throughout the show. l particularly enjoyed the musical numbers ”Sunshine Lollipop” duet with Dolly, and “In the Country”.  I also liked the fact that Daisy the cow was bought by the Gypsy King , played by Paul Simpson  This was a good colourful scene and broke away from tradition making good use of the children. Good acting from Eve Angstmann, as Fairy of the Bean,  Alex Graham, as Justina, and Christopher Jones, as the chancellor.  Ian Patterson, as King Brandyball, and Jennifer Palin, as his Queen, were suitably regal, as was Jayne Etherington, as Princess Marigold. I loved their musical number “Hello Summertime”.  The giant is always a focal point in this pantomime, and many a society chooses to omit the character and use a voice-over, but not at Spennymoor Stage and Song.  Giant Blunderbore was played by Richard Butler, and his imposing height certainly portrayed the character well. There was lots of fine singing and acting from the chorus townsfolk, and special mention must go to all the children who for me made this a truly entertaining evening.  Well done for yet another sterling performance.

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