JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. Palace Theatre Newark till 4 January.
Newark.
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.
Palace Theatre Newark To 4 January 2009.
various days 10am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 5.30pm and 7pm no performance 25 Dec, 1 Jan.
Runs: 2hr 20min One interval.
TICKETS: 01636 655755.
www.palacenewark.com
Review: Alan Geary: 12 December 2008.
Your traditional Newark panto at its best. O yes it is!
Early on in this splendidly old-fashioned pantomime Simple Simon (Ian Jones) deliberately falls over - it’s his impression of a bloke with a plastic hip standing too near a radiator! Jones is an ideal comedy man for all ages: not only is he funny, friendly, and generous with the sweet throwing; he’s the centre of a smut-free zone that embraces the entire show.
There are no weaknesses. There’s lots of well-choreographed song and dance, including a tap routine from the youngsters to the tune of William Tell, leggy glamour, gorgeous costumes and a very messy pie-throwing scene from Simon and Dame Trott (Jeffery Holland, out of Hi-Di-Hi). Holland’s dame has a lot of the Charley’s Aunt about her.
The man in black is Tony Scannell (The Bill), as Fleshcreep, henchman to a nicely realistic Giant Blunderbore; and goodness is provided by Judy Buxton as Fairy Organic, all in green. You even get a juggler on stilts thrown in as a bonus.
Then of course there’s King Crumble, played as un-pompous, camp and incompetent by Peter Jamieson, his lovely daughter the Princess Amelia (Hannah Spicer) and the intrepid Jack (Chris Park).
Daisy the cow, sold for some beans but saved from the slaughter house in the nick of time, is beautifully played, we’re told, by herself.
This is your low-tech, traditional Newark panto at its best. Everyone can enjoy it.
Fairy Organic: Judy Buxton.
Fleshcreep: Tony Scannell.
Giant Blunderbore: Phil Price.
Princess Amelia: Hannah Spicer.
Jack Trott: Chris Park.
Simon Trott: Ian Jones.
King Crumble: Peter Jamieson.
Dame Trott: Jeffrey Holland.
Daisy the Cow: Herself.
Specialities: The Amazing Circus Skills of Phil Price.
Dancers: Adam Gray, Scott Wilson and The Tozer Studios.
Children: The Tozer Studioes.
Director: Mark Piper.
Designer: Stephen Wilson.
Musical Director: Matt Marks.
Choreographer: Mitch Rumin.
Costume: Eve Wilkinson.
2008-12-15 00:58:51