Jack, Jill and the Beanstalk

Woodlands Theatrical Society never seems content to do just one pantomime at a time.  This time last year they were doing Adventures in Pantoland which gave a nod to almost every pantomime you can think of.  This year we have Jack and Jill and the Beanstalk – a twist on the classic tale involving a giant, a beanstalk and a camel!  Well, this was pantoland. 

I was a little less familiar with a number of the tunes this year.  If they were not original they were obscure, at least to me.  The plot - well, let’s see.  The leads Kirsten Dupree, Chantel Dupree, Gareth Graham and Malcolm Alderson play, respectively, the principal boy (played by a girl, in true panto. tradition), a principal girl, a traditional pantomime dame called Dolly Mixtures, his/her son called Richard (Dick) Mixtures.  Then there’s that beanstalk and Tom Berry playing the Giant (called Guy Ant, get it?) and a comic duo, Aaron Thomas and Caroline Dowse, glorying in the names Robin Ublind and Conrad Fidence-Trickster. Rest assured it all works out well in the end!

Last year I suggested the ensemble singing could have done with some harmonies.  Blow me, someone took notice.  Kirsten Dupree and Chantel Dupree engaged in some very effective sibling harmonies (they are sisters) in their leading roles and the whole chorus presented some very pleasing harmonies in the finale.  I’m sure the audience, comprising mainly family and friends, were as impressed as my guest and I were.

Malcolm Alderson (who directed the show) was an impressive Dame.  I have now come to terms with panto. dames, after seeing about 12 pantos. in the past 18 months.  They no longer frighten me into stuttering silence like they did when I was a kid.  Malcolm has a lot to do with that.

Once again, the dancing from the Marian Lane School of Theatre Dance was entrancing, especially the very small members of the troupe.  Well done, everybody.  I definitely left the Hall with a smile on my face.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.