Jack and The Beanstalk Pantomime Dec 2016

Well this time of year has come around again once more as we are in Panto season.

This time of year, when its family time and all end up going to the local theatre and having a laugh and good time at a pantomime.
I don’t know about you guys but I do love a panto. I used to go all the time when I was younger with my family and just a few years ago, I started going to one again.

One pantomime that I have been going to see this year is called Jack and the Beanstalk.

Jack and the beanstalk is about boy named Jack and a Giant named Blunderbore. The villagers are afraid of the giant and his servant Fleshcreep. The King is forced to issue a decree to whoever manages to defeat the giant will win the princess’s hand in marriage. Jack who is the clever son of Dame Trott decides to fight. Fleshcreep hears about this and is not very happy so he decides to demand more rent from Dame Trott who is poor and unable to pay. He also kidnap’s the princess and takes her to the giant’s castle whilst no one is looking. The Trott’s are forced to sell their cow, Daisy but Jack is tricked by Fleshcreep who disguises himself as one of the villagers and hands Jack beans instead of gold. Dame Trott is not very happy and throws the beans out the window. Before the Trott’s know it, the beans begin to grow. Jack gets a magic axe and starts to climb the beanstalk with his not so clever brother Simple Simon. Under a spell of a fairy, well spirit of the beans. Jack is instructed to visit the giant’s kitchen where the princess is locked up ready to be eaten by the giant himself and to get the golden eggs and the harp which the giant stole from the villagers. Jack finds the princess and hears these famous words ‘fe fi fo fum, I smell blood of an Englishman’ Jack hides and waits for the giant to fall asleep listening to the music from the harp. Whilst the giant is sleeping Jack rescues the princess but not so far away is Fleshcreep who hears Jack and the princess and wakes Giant Blunderbore. Jack and the princess manage to escape the castle and return to their home. Jack cuts down the beanstalk. The spirit of the beans transforms Flesh creep into an honest citizen and they all live happily ever after.

Jack and the beanstalk has a cast of amazing talented people.

It stars Lee Latchford-Evans in the title role of Jack Trott.

Darren Altman as Simple Simon Trott, Dave Short as Dame Mary Trott, Simon Kingsley as Fleshcreep, Natalie Law as Princess Amelia, Brigid Lohrex as Spirit of the Beans, Kappa Llwellyn as King Crumble, Thomas Partner as Giant Blunderbore.

I have never seen such a fun, crazy and energetic pantomime. It’s amazing there is always something happening to keep the audience entertained.

There is a scene in the panto where the cast all chase each other and interact with the audience in the whole auditorium. Which was the highlight of the show as it had me laughing out loud, I even got a quick chat from Jack himself who came to sit near me for a couple of seconds and the king as he went past me was messing my hair up. I found it funny.
The two main songs that audience’s will know in the panto is Purple Rain and Skyfall. Both these songs are mostly sung by the Steps star himself Lee Latchford-Evans who sings them both with passion and feeling. My heart absolutely melted when I heard them both for the first time, amazing job Lee, well done.
Also for those who remember the pop band Steps and were a fan like myself there is a little treat in the middle of the panto where the cast sing Tragedy and at the end after the bows the cast sing a Steps medley, the audiences are up on their feet doing the routines and singing along. It really is like a Steps concert all over again.

Darren Altman portrays Simon Trott as someone who is not very bright, still a little kid at heart but means no harm. Darren is fantastic throughout the show, doing impressions of Alan Sugar, Alan Carr and Ant and Dec. Very funny. Darren had me laughing every time he appeared on stage. His impressions were spot on.

Natalie Law who portrays Princess Amelia is a kind and quiet princess who just wants to be happy and loved. A nice sweet voice.

Simon Kingsley portrays the evil Fleshcreep who was great in the role. Played the part very believable.

Dave Short who portrays Dame Mary Trott was very good I enjoyed watching Dave because he reacted with the audience a lot and told jokes. The dame always gets the most costumes changes but they were also very entertaining with little features added including the minion lights.

Finally, Lee Latchford-Evans who portrays Jack. Lee is amazing as the title role, Lee steals the show. Lee plays the role of Jack as a cheeky, flirtatious, full of adventure and the towns hero. Loved the way Lee reacted to the audience. An amazing singer and actor and you could tell Lee was having a good time on stage.

This pantomime really is one not to be missed as its full of surprises. So, get up to The Watersmeet, Rickmansworth this Christmas to see Jack and the Beanstalk, showing until 31^st December 2016.