Birmingham Hippodrome – until 28th January 2024
Reviewed by Emma Millward
5*****
Christmas may have been and gone, but the festive spirit is still going strong in Brum!! The posters dotted around the Hippodrome promise “A Giant Pantomime spectacular” and they definitely deliver.
Birmingham born and bred Alison Hammond takes to the stage as ‘The Spirit of the Beans’, making the most of her first acting role at the Hippodrome. She lets the crowd know just how much the building means to her, including touching stories of her attending shows there with her late mother, who now has a seat dedicated to her memory on the front row.
Back for his tenth year is Matt Slack, who has become an integral part of the Panto season in Birmingham. As well as performing, he has co-written the show with Harry Michaels. Slack displays his comedic skills as Jack’s brother Jake. He brings all the slapstick humour and gags you expect from Panto. Slack takes a moment towards the end to reminisce on his decade at the Hippodrome, singing to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s ‘That’s Life’, alongside photographs of his many characters.
Also hailing from Birmingham, Alexanda O’Reilly plays the title role, with Billie-Kay as a feisty Princess Jill. Andrew Ryan is hilarious as the quintessentially camp Dame Trot in so many outrageous outfits I lost count. Another local, Doreen Tipton as Doreen the Cow, raises many laughs playing on her lazy internet persona. She also surprises with her vocal range, belting out a very tongue in cheek version of Les Misérables ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ or ‘I Creamed a Cream’ to be exact.
Alongside them, Samantha Womack plays the deliciously evil villain Mrs Blunderbore, the wife of the Giant. Having seen Womack performing as Sandy in Grease in London’s West End many years ago, I can confirm her singing voice is still as powerful as she belted out Steps’ ‘Scared of the Dark’. Womack revels in her character’s wicked nature and encourages the boos she gets from the audience.
Directed and produced by Michael Harrison, who has worked on many spectacular West End productions. The show is bursting with energy from the start. The lavish and colourful set designed by Mark Walters was also used at the London Palladium’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk in 2022. The special effects used to bring the beanstalk and Giants (yep, that’s plural!) to life are amazing. The huge inflatable beanstalk appearing in the middle of the auditorium drew audible gasps, especially from my daughter as it happened right by our seats! Jack (O’Reilly) climbing it all the way to the Hippodrome ceiling really did bring the first part of the show to an exciting climax.
Jack and the Beanstalk does exactly what a pantomime should, it entertains the whole family, with more than a few ‘grown up’ jokes thrown in to keep everyone happy. Even on a cold and damp January night, it still made the crowd feel the joy and excitement that only superb live theatre can bring. The show runs until 28th January so get your tickets now.