Charing Cross Theatre – until 11 January 2025
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
He’s Behind You! return to Charing Cross Theatre for another Christmas season of filthy fun and saucy shenanigans.
Dame Dolly Trott (Matthew Baldwin) has lost her job on a famous Northern soap opera and has moved to a farm. She and her son Jack (Keanu Adolphus-Johnson) are not taking to the agricultural life however, with the dairy herd depleted to just two cows – Tess and Claudia – and Jack’s attempts at crop production resulting in some laughable lettuces. Used to a hedonistic life in Leeds, Jack has taken to cruising the local graveyard as no one is on the apps out there in Upper Bottom. Dishy Reverend Tim (Joe Grundy) could be the perfect man for Jack, but Tim wants to keep their relationship on the downlow and Dolly thinks he fancies her.
Local fairy and jack-of-all-trades Dale (Chris Lane) pops up everywhere while the villagers despair as evil lady of the manor, Lady Fleshcreep (Jordan Stamatiadis) plots to evict tenants on technicalities to fulfil her ambitious dreams. Meanwhile her hapless niece, Simone (Laura Anna-Mead) lusts after local midwife Alice (Caitlin Swanton) but is too shy to approach her.
Claudia is reluctantly sold for a bag of magic beans and Jack (and Dolly) venture up the phallic plant to seek their fortune. The traditional magic harp is there, but also the giant’s bagpipes, whose magical effects boost their bank balance and the local menfolk’s prospects.
David Shield’s set is a candy-coloured delight and with wonderfully camp costumes by Robert Draper and Sandy Lloyd, this looks like a traditional panto. Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper’s script is anything but family friendly, and the gags about fisting and rimming are crammed in, along with jokes about Huw Evans and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Bradfield’s songs are lots of fun and the filth is countered by the nostalgic panto staples of call and response (beavers are involved – obviously), sweetie throwing and audience singalongs and in director Andrew Beckett’s assured hands, the show is a fast-paced treat.
Jordan Stamatiadis is brilliantly OTT as the dastardly Fleshcreep, and Chris Lane flirts wonderfully while Matthew Baldwin is at his dry and manic best as Dolly – still one of the best dames out there. The cast perform with boundless energy and create an infectious and joyful atmosphere.
Bawdy and bonkers, this is gloriously silly adult Christmas fun