York Theatre Royal – until Sunday 7th January 2024
Reviewed by Michelle Richardson
4****
Jack and the Beanstalk is this year’s pantomime at York Theatre Royal. Once again bought to the York stage by Evolution Productions. Written and produced by Paul Hendy, and directed by Juliet Forster, it is the same team that has triumphed with the YTR pantomimes since returning after lockdown, a true winning formula, and long may it continue.
Curtain up and Fairy Sugarsnap (Nina Wadia), complete with artichoke wand, is on an unprepared stage. With a flick of her wand the set of Giggleswick appears and an updated take on the traditional story unfolds. In a switch of roles, Jack/Jaqueline (Mia Overfield), the protagonist of the story, is actually a heroine and daughter of Dame Trott (Robin Simpson). With the help of her brother Billy (Matthew Curnier) and Fairy Sugarsnap, Jack leads the fight against the Giant, plus the addition of his stroppy son Darren, and the dastardly Luke Backinanger (James Mackenzie) in rescuing Dave the Talking Cow (Anna Soden). In the process she saves the family from poverty, as well as preventing a climate catastrophe.
Returning Simpson is a truly excellent Dame, an audience favourite. He had us all in stitches, plays up to his role perfectly, from the soaking and gunge in the weather machine, to his turn around the agility course. The costumes worn by Simpson as the Dame are fabulous, most notably the Clifford’s Tower dress, the pink and white checked tea party dress and the Elton John outfit and he wears them with panache. They all packed a punch and well done costume designers Ella Neal and Amy Chamberlain. They have outdone themselves, so have Hazel Fall and Michael J Batchelor who designed the dame’s costumes.
Standout performer for me was York’s own Anna Soden as Dave the Talking Cow. We know that the cows are always female, but here it has a male name, played by a female, and looks like a female, sounds crazy but it works. Her rendition of I’m Just Dave, a take on I’m Just Ken from this year’s hit movie Barbie, was the icing on the cake. She was funny, feisty and her voice was amazing, a wonderful performer.
Wadia, most notable from Eastenders and Goodness Gracious Me, was really sweet as the fairy, such fun and full of fairy powered goodness. Mackenzie, again another figure from television, CBBC’s Raven, a show my children watched when they were younger, relished playing the baddie and the booing that he generated. Curnier has so much energy on stage, full of beans and we all enjoyed shouting Hi Billy and the high fives every time he appeared on stage. Overfield’s role grew as the show went on and proved that Jack could be female, and she had a beautiful voice.
Shout out to the six talented ensemble dancers and actors, who spent a lot of time on stage, swapping characters and outfits with ease. Lauren Richardson was encouraged to show us her flexible, disjointed arms, which did make me grimace in amazement.
Highlights of the show for me included the surprise addition of Zeus, a gorgeous border collie who graced the stage with his tricks, though not all went to plan. Credit must go to his trainer Anna Auster for allowing us to experience the beauty of Zeus. Curnier and the GIANT tomato was another. He was so unpredictable during this scene that the other actors couldn’t keep a straight face, very bouncy is all I can say. Lastly, but not least, is the boyband skit with accompanying VT. This all comes about because Luke Backinanger was a failed Yorkshires Got Talent contestant; this is the root of his wickedness, which all changes at the end of the show.
I was fortunate to be able to review this with my three young grandsons. The looks of awe on their faces were priceless and the enthusiasm shown was enough to wake the dead. They especially loved the water pistols and being soaked, they couldn’t stop talking about it on our journey home, until they all fell asleep in the car.
This panto had all the classic bits from what is expected from a panto. There were the usual political digs, Hull jokes and cultural references. Full of modern songs and dance that have been adapted just for this show. At time bonkers and with a few hiccups, the extremely slow inflation of the beanstalk the most noticeable, but this led to even more laughter. It is full of energy, silliness, song and dance, and the traditional good versus evil, and of course good always conquers. A fabulous experience, full of beans that is suitable for the whole family.
You can now also buy tickets for next year’s panto from the same team, Aladdin, with the wonderful Robin Simpson returning as the Dame.