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01
Dec
Review: Harrogate Theatre’s Jack and the Beanstalk
The cold air and Christmas decorations can only mean one thing: it's pantomime season.
The always highly-anticipated Harrogate panto, which is Jack and the Beanstalk this year, got underway at Harrogate Theatre yesterday (November 30) — and it did not disappoint.
After the Trott family are forced to sell their beloved cow, heroine Jacqueline (Dora Gee) – or Jack, for short – hopes some magic beans will turn the family's fortune around.
As the well-known tale goes, Jack ventures up a sky-high beanstalk to Giant Blunderbore’s castle, where she must save her best friend, Princess Jill (Elouise Warboys), before the princess becomes the giant’s dinner, as well as retrieve a singing harp and goose that lays golden eggs.
The innuendos between Dame Tilly Trott (Harry Wyatt) and King Bumble (Michael Lambourne, who also plays villain Fleshcreep) went straight over the children's heads, but the message of friendship and honesty resonates with everyone.
Princess Jill (Elouise Warboys) and Jack (Dora Gee). Photo credit: Karl Andre
Expectations of Harrogate pantomime are always high, but this year's production really levelled up: there is a myriad of interchanging sets, each as detailed and dazzling as the last, and, without giving away too much, the team took the character of the giant quite literally.
It wouldn’t be a local panto without some harmless jabs. This year’s victims include North Yorkshire Council, Bettys’ prices and even the self-checkout queue at M&S.
Tim Stedman, who plays Silly Simon, returns for his 25th year and is as hilariously childish as ever. He is the embodiment of Harrogate pantomime, and makes me laugh now as much as I did as a child. The audience roar when he took his bow indicated I'm far from alone in my admiration.
Wyatt’s performance as Dame Tilly Trott is as boisterous and engaging as her ever-changing – and ever-bonkers – outfits. The cast is a true delight.
Photo credit: Karl Andre
Jack and the Beanstalk combines all the usual pantomime ingredients: slapstick humour, cream pies to the face, outrageous costumes, fabulous musical numbers and audience interaction aplenty.
I would challenge anyone watching to maintain a straight face throughout. This is the sprinkling of magic everyone needs at Christmas time.
Jack and the Beanstalk is on at Harrogate Theatre until January 18. Tickets, which can be bought by clicking here, range from £18 to £200.
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