Salisbury Playhouse – until the 7 Jan 2018. Reviewed by Jo and Harry Gordon
5*****
It is that time of year again where villains practice their evil laugh, the underdogs find their inner hero and the Dames pull out their most outrageous costumes, panto season has begun! This years production at Salisbury Playhouse is Jack and the Beanstalk and it was spectacular.
Jack Trott (Sam Harrisson) lives a poor life along with his mother Dame Trott (Richard Ede) and their dairy cow, Pat (Laura Crowhurst). King Crackpot (J.J Henry) and his daughter Princess Jill (Tanya Sheilds) try their best to rule the land but are overpowered by a Giant (played by Himself) and his henchman Nightshade (Steven Serlin). They combine forces and begin their adventure to make good overcome evil with a little help from the magical bean seller Fortuna (Jemma Geanaus) along the way. Will they save the day?
The set is beautiful and transports you to the magical kingdom where Jack and his friends reside effortlessly, the costumes are divine and bring the glitter-fest that is panto to life with probably the best Giant I have seen in a production of Jack . The cast are tight and well rehearsed, not missing a beat and interact with the audience well filling the theatre with raucous laughter as children and adults alike are entertained with jokes and double entendres a plenty. The musical score was fabulous with lots of current touches and a rendition of a very famous Queen song that was pure genius! Overall a thigh-slappingly good production that shows us from little magic beans giant adventures grow.