I hate audience participation of any kind but found myself “booing” at the top of my lungs within two minutes of Hull New Theatre’s pantomime, Jack And The Beanstalk, starting.
The object of my, and the rest of the fullish theatre’s vocal disapproval on Sunday evening, was Mrs Blunderbore (well done to local girl Chelsea Hall on a memorable panto debut), wife of the fearsome giant who lives at the top of the beanstalk.
This age-old fairytale tells the story of simple farmers Jack Trot (Gareth Gates), his brother Silly Simon (Neil Hurst), their mum Dame Trot (Jack Land Noble), and Jack’s love interest Princess Jill (Allana Taylor).
Under severe financial pressure and threats from the evil giant and Mrs Blunderbore, the Trots sadly decide to sell their cow Daisy – hopefully to a kind person from whom they can buy her back at a later time.
However, Jack is duped into selling to a farmer called Old McDonald, who is really the dastardly Mrs Blunderbore in disguise. She hands Jack a bag of “gold nuggets” as payment and makes off, cackling, with her husband’s next meal, Daisy.
Dame Trot opens the bag of “treasure” to find the gold nuggets are, in fact, worthless beans, and she tosses them out of the window in disgust, where they take root, forming, you’ve guessed it, a giant beanstalk.
Realising Jack’s stupidity, they all join their (very few) brain cells together and come up with a plan to get Daisy back – alive.
Aided and abetted by Mother Nature (Georgia Iudica-Davies), the five of them, with the help of some very clever 3D magical effects (by this time we were all donning our special specs provided), began to climb the beanstalk, ending up in the giant’s house.
The climb was fun, games and yuk all the way. Yuk, as the giant spiders, rats, bats, spitting maggots and, eventually, the ugly giant all leapt out at the (happily) screaming audience.
Thankfully, Daisy was rescued alive, oh yes she was, and Jack and Jill end up getting married.
I got the impression by the colourful, but basic, scenery, pre-3D, that this isn’t a big budget panto. But the smallish cast was full of huge talent.
Adopted Hullensian, Hurst, a regular in this theatre’s pantomimes, carried the show with his madcap ways and jokes (some naughty, but all very funny).
Former Pop Idol finalist, Gates, provided the star name and looked good in tights – his singing voice was amazing, too.
Top marks also to Land Noble whose exaggerated steps as Dame Trot, had us in stitches.
Taylor as Princess Jill, and Iudica-Davies as Mother Nature, and the aforementioned Hall as Mrs Blunderbore, all played their part in keeping us entertained. Six talented dancers completed the cast.
Stirring music, played live; flashing lights and swirling mists all added to the fairytale atmosphere. As for the costumes, Dame Trot’s garish dresses, Jack and Jill’s wedding gear, the Trot’s farm animals and the fluorescent dancing butterflies were all stand-outs.
And the lengthy 3D experience in the second half was well worth the ticket money alone.
It’s not the best panto I’ve seen at this theatre, but everyone on stage that night played their part in sending us home with smiles on our faces.
Running until Saturday, December 31st, 2022; performances on different dates at 5pm or 7pm with 1pm and 2pm matinees on differing days. For more information or to book, call (01482) 300306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk Tickets cost from £17.50
Reviewer: Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 11th December 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★