JACK AND THE BEANSTALK till 30 January

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK: Devised by Paul Elliott
Birmingham Hippodrome: Tkts 0870 730 1234
Runs: 2h 25 m, one interval, till 30 January 2005
Review: Rod Dungate, 22 December 2004

Great seasonal entertainment and a seasonal message too.
Birmingham's most lavish pantomime is in fine fettle in this JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. Fast moving, lots of hissing and booing, great fun. And a terrific central performance from Joe Pasquale.

Paul Elliott has devised and directed it which I guess means he's responsible for the script. While we shouldn't be too po-faced about a pantomime script it's worthwhile, just for a second, saying a word about it. Elliott firmly places the story in Birmingham and the Black Country (Aston Under Over?? Dudley to be precise). And his story is about inclusivity, about living together in harmony. The bad guy Fleshcreep is made good, and even the Giant learns to live with everyone; the panto itself finishes with 'Shine a light in every corner of the world,' with flags of many nations being waved. A marvellous message carried forward in a surprising, and valuable, context.

The Birmingham setting gives rise to one of the high spots of the production, too a surreal car ride through the city's Queensway tunnels, hilarious and wonderfully executed.

As for Joe Pasquale he's fresh from the jungle (not surprisingly many references to this.) He has a delightful, laid-back personality. He easefully charms children and adults alike and his unflagging energy drives the show along. His storyline is more like a washing line on which he hangs gags, tricks and stage business; this gives Jack (rather than Joe) an appearance of ownership of the story. Laughs and groans accompany these moments in equal measure. I trust he'll retain his spirit of spontaneity.

Pasquale is well aided and abetted by Letitia Dean as Princess Apricot. Her bright personality is a great asset; she has an attractive singing voice, too, though the sound balance isn't yet right, making it difficult to catch what she's singing. Don Maclean is great value as Dame Trot. Charlie Cairoli makes is presence felt, too, as King Crumble; his series of fart/ willie/ knickers jokes have the children laughing in the way only children can.

And the giant is humungous.

Jack Trot: Joe Pasquale
Princess Apricot: Letitia Dean
Dame Trot: Don Maclean
Fleshcreep: Jason Pethers
King Crumble: Charlie Cairoli
Fairy: Veronica Hart
Cow: Ashley Andrews, Jonathan Reynolds
Vizier: Marc Llewelyn
Chicken: Malcolm Stent
The Giant: Himself

Villagers, Cloud People etc Ashley Andrews, Abbie Guilding, Kady-Jo Jackson, Aby Kate, Kristina Macmillan, Joe McMurry, Toshi Mitsuhashi, Nikki Mullins, Luce Norris, Jonathan Reynolds, Hakan Topologlu, Craig Williams

Juveniles: Birmingham Stage School

Director: Paul Elliott
Choreographer: Barbara Evans
Musical Director: Robert Willis
Designer: Hugh Durrant
Lighting Designer: Chris Wilcox

2004-12-23 10:56:37