JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. To 12 Jan 2008.
London.
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
by Jonathan Harvey Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
Barbican Theatre To 12 Jan 2008.
Tue-Sun various dates 10am, 1pm, 2.30pm, 4pm, 5.30pm, 7pm also31 Dec 1pm & 5.30pm.
BSL Signed 18 Dec 7pm.
Captioned 11 Dec 1pm.
Runs 2hr 30 mins One interval.
TICKETS: 020 7638 8891.
http://www.barbican.org.uk/jack
Review: Geoff Ambler 8 December 2007.
If you need a panto then get Stiles and Drewe to rhyme it.
Prominent in this years selection of Christmas productions, is the Barbican’s Jack and the Beanstalk. Expanding on last year’s offering, which had a single song contributed by the musical genius that is Stiles and Drewe, Jack has all its music provided by the unerring pairing and benefits hugely from their combined talents. A script that sticks closely to the tradition of bad jokes, aimed at both children of all ages and slightly older children of slightly older ages, is given more Christmas spirit whenever the singing takes over.
Set in a Bog Standard Town where the streets are paved with Bacofoil, Jack sets itself apart from the franchise pantos. There are no garishly painted sets; instead designer Kenny Miller raises the bar with something minimalist, modern and silver; the cast lacks a soap “star” although it is fairer to say this is definitely not a lacking, and even the ad-libbing was very, very funny. (Surely some of those lines could not have been scripted.)
Andy Gray’s panto expertise shines though the layers of make-up and prosthetic hair as Dame Dolly Delux, all entendres (double, single and possibly triple) and stand-up comedy, enlivening the audience into participation, whether they want it or not. As arch baddie, standing in as a reasonably sized representative of the Giant, is Steve Furst's Beastly Boris. He plays for boos and hisses with relish, yet no political allusion is made throughout - an easy panto opportunity missed.
Thigh-slapping is provided by Principal Boy Helen Baker, elfin and ebullient as the eponymous hero who falls in love with a very slightly, and surely intentionally, annoying Princess Melody (Alison Pargeter). Ashley Campbell takes the Buttons role as Mad Matty, who isn’t very mad but is still quite good fun. Mel Giedroyc flutters on as Fairy Liquid from time to time to narrate, catch up and progress the story but lacks the impact of a mad Dame or beastly Beastly Boris.
The Barbican has produced another silly thigh-slapper and Stiles, Drewe, writer Jonathan Harvey and director Giles Havergal have together crafted a fine family festivity.
Fairy Liquid: Mel Giedroyc.
Beastly Boris: Steve Furst.
Mad Matty: Ashley Campbell.
Jack: Helen Baker.
Major Domo/Giant: Tony Jayawardena.
King Norman the Nineteenth: Jack Chissick.
Princess Melody: Alison Pargeter.
Donna Marie: Shelley Williams.
Dame Dolly Deluxe: Andy Gray.
Ensemble:
Matthew Malthouse (Dance Captain), Lucy Anderson, Kevin Brewis, Tom Dwyer, Stuart Ellis, Michelle Francis, Brenda Moore, Ngo Omene Ngofa.
Director: Giles Havergal.
Designer: Kenny Miller.
Lighting: Oliver Fenwick.
Musical Director: Andy Massey.
Choreographer: Geoffrey Garratt.
2007-12-11 00:28:21