Theatre / Reviews
Review: Jack and the Beanstalk, Bristol Hippodrome – ‘A good old-fashioned, razzamatazz-laden panto’
If you want a good old-fashioned, razzamatazz-laden panto with spills, thrills, a big name, and plenty of opportunities to shout out, then look no further than this year’s offering at the Bristol Hippodrome. Oh, and did I mention that there’s also a guest appearance from beloved bear hand puppet, Sooty!
An excitable audience of school parties, scouts, guides, youth club members and families, along with the odd panto-curious souls, were treated to a show as big as the Giant’s boots.
Charlie Brooks as the wicked Mrs Blunderbore kicks off proceedings, and despite a few technical sound issues on the night rendering what she said inaudible, we get the gist. The giant is going to gobble up all the townsfolk’s animals and then start on their owners.
Charlie Brooks as Mrs Blunderbore in Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack Trot, an earnest Benjamin Yates alongside Princess Jill (Ashlyn Weeks) do their best to navigate the audience through the story, but they don’t really have to bother; the plot takes second fiddle to what is a selection of silly sketches.
And who better to act as master of ceremonies for these than Bristol panto favourite, Andy Ford as Jack’s dad, Farmer Trot? He delves deep into his old joke book for an array of puns, one-liners and routines to tickle the funny bones of young and old alike.
Andy Ford as Farmer Trot
Straying even further from the narrative is Richard Cadell as Silly Simon. He convinces the auditorium to engage in audience participation throughout the show, even without his trusty sidekick, Sooty.
An accomplished magician and a member of the Magic Circle, Cadell sets up an impressive series of tricks, some involving the small yellow hand puppet alongside larger set-piece routines, and one including chainsaws surrounding himself, while trapped in a box.
Richard Cadell with Sooty
What does all this have to do with the story of the Giant and the magic beans? Nothing, but in a way, that’s the point. This show is a mixture of old-time variety, corny jokes, spirited dancing from the talented ensemble, and a bit of singing from the main event thrown in.
Will Young, the winner of the inaugural series of Pop Idol in 2002 oozes star quality in a precise, but finessed manner as the Spirit of the Beans. He goes along with the crashing of the fourth wall to sing several of his well-known numbers and is pretty game even after having his trousers yanked down in a silly musical number at the end.
Benjamin Yates as Jack Trot and Will Young as the Spirit of the Beans
The special effects are impressive, if not original, and although we do get the chance to see Cadell riding a motorcycle upside down over the stalls, I personally wanted to see more of the giant.
But just as it is in real life, you can’t have everything in Pantoland, and judging by the screams of enjoyment from children – and those quite a bit older – in the audience, that is all fine and dandy. It is often said that panto is a child’s first experience of the theatre, and if this was the debut for many, then they shall surely be back for more.
Poster: Bristol Hippodrome
Jack and the Beanstalk (Pantomime) is at Bristol Hippodrome on December 6-January 4; times vary. Tickets are available at www.atgtickets.com.
All photos: Steve Tanner
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