Jack and the Beanstalk was first narrated in the 1700’s and 300 years on, the Queens Theatre in Hornchurch performed this timeless classic as a witty pantomime to create a spectacular night for all. Written by Andrew Pollard, this performance was crammed full of traditional slapstick and jokes that brought tears of laughter to the audience – no one left disappointed. The director, Martin Berry produced a classic fairy-tale with a modern twist for the whole family and started off the month of December with an unforgettable night. Upon entering the arena, a glittering and brightly coloured fairground setting adorned the stage, complete with a coconut shy, fortune telling machine and rotating Ferris wheel. The performance started with an upbeat dance ensemble introducing the charismatic characters Jack, his mother Dotty Trott, their cow Pat, the fairground owner Frank Furter and his daughter Jill. They told us about the predicament they were in – a Giant was stealing people from the fairground and they had to give him money constantly, money they didn’t have due to the lack of customers at the fairground. Jack sold his cow Pat in exchange for some magic beans that produced a Beanstalk leading to the Giant. He scaled the beanstalk, fought off the Giant, saved the day and won over Jill, the girl he was in love with. This classic story was revamped by using the original idea of a funfair as the main setting and a talented troupe of young dancers that almost stole the show.
The casting director Matthew Dewsbury did an excellent job at selecting actors that brought the characters to life. Jack was portrayed as a cute, country boy who was a hopeless romantic in love with Jill. His mother Dame Dotty Trott was absolutely hilarious. She incorporated adult humour into the story to appeal to the older members of the audience using jokes and comments that caused chuckles all around. She unfortunately suffered a wardrobe malfunction during the Monster Mash in the Giant’s castle – her wig flew off! However, she covered it up with a torrent of comical comments and improvised excellently so that it seemed a part of the act. Frank Furter played the role of the overprotective yet loving dad extremely well and brought a charismatic personality to the stage that complimented Dotty’s persona perfectly to make them a great couple. The execution of the Giant was a genius way to bring the story to life. A huge giant prop voiced and operated by Sheldon Greenland cast looks of awe upon everyone’s faces as it dominated the stage.
The many modern twists incorporated into this classic fairy-tale brought a relatable atmosphere to the show as Pat danced to Milkshake by Kelis, Shake it Off by Taylor Swift and the song that caused the biggest uproar of laughter – Baby Shark. These popular songs were a hit with the younger children and adults alike and I can guarantee that the whole audience was singing along. Jill proposing to Jack as opposed to the other way around was a monumental scene as it challenged traditional roles and presented Jill as a confident, headstrong woman who wasn’t afraid to go out and get what she wanted. All in all, it was a great night, and everyone was extremely well taken care of with an endless supply of drinks during the interval, an after-party bursting with snacks and the most welcoming staff. Ayesha Miah said “I don’t usually like pantomimes, but that was amazing – Dotty was hilarious, the lighting and ambience were perfect, the set was so creative, and the humour was great for both kids and adults. I love how they really made the traditional story their own. I’ll definitely be back!”.
