|
|
|
|
|
A real Christmas cracker
Jack and the Beanstalk
Birmingham Hippodrome
***** CHRISTMAS just wouldn’t be Christmas
without a pantomime (Oh yes it would! Oh no it wouldn’t!
etc.) and Birmingham Hippodrome have found a real Christmas
Cracker, the best panto I have seen in ages (Oh no it
isn’t! Oh yes it is! etc). It is fun for all the family from beginning to
end with a smattering of innuendo, well beyond the innocent minds of
children and any maiden aunt who thinks sex is what coal comes in, some
good lines and routines, a strong, simple storyline, which kids need to
guide them though it, and a glorious feast of silliness. There are also some stunning special effects such
as a flying helicopter, soaring out over the audience and a giant,
giant, looming out above the heads of the audience, big enough to fill
the stage, but not too scary for the little ones. Then there is a giant growing beanstalk and a
clever 3D section with the usual collection of spiders and creepy
crawlies including some remarkably unattractive spitting maggots. Amid all the glitz, glamour and big-budget
special effects though were some real comedy gems. West End star Gary
Wilmott, after last year’s dame debut as Cook in Snow White, is
back in his best frocks again as Dame Trott, and gives a clever and
witty chocolate romance routine using every bar of chocolate you can
think of. The Wispa is that it is very funny, if you see what I mean. Then there is ventriloquist Paul Zerdin, who
plays Simple Simon, with a variation with is dummy Sam on Abbot and
Costello's classic Who's on first baseball sketch from the 1930s.
It brings the clever wordplay to a new audience. It is worth checking
out he original, incidentally, on YouTube. Zerdin takes on the duties of encouraging four
children brought up from the audience to have a chat and sing a song,
and takes on more than he bargained fro with Lucy from Birmingham who
tells him she can see his lips moving! Which he worked into the
act. Dame Trott has been a busy girl in the past and
as well as son Simon, the simple one, she has a second son, Silly Billy,
the even simpler one, played by Matt Slack, and a third son in Jack, the
dashing, handsome, teeth gleaming, intelligent(ish) one, played by
Duncan James from Blue.
Slack, in his 15th consecutive Qdos panto, is one
of the foremost panto exponents in the country and once you have seen
him in action it is easy to see why. He is visually funny with daft walks and
gestures, rubber faced, has an immediate rapport with the audience and
is genuinely funny. Providing the obligatory baddy is Chris Gascoyne,
best known as Peter Barlow for Coronation Street, who gives a gravel
voiced lack of charm to the evil, black leather dressed Fleshcreep. While on the side of the righteous, which in her
case are those from Yorkshire, with Lancashire at a pinch, is The
Enchantress in the shape of Jane McDonald. She has a wonderful sense of
fun, and a great voice and it is a pity we didn’t hear more of it, but
then again, that’s what concerts are for, and this is a panto, so get on
with it. She, along with Wilmott, Zerdin and Slack were
involved in a variation of The Twelve Days of Christmas involving
the likes of socks, frocks, pots and pans, toilet rolls, and of course a
fairy on top of the tree. It was very funny, and despite the apparent
chaos, wrecked scenery and general mayhem, must have taken hours of
rehearsal. Finally the object of the affection of the Trott
Boys is the Princess Apricot, played by Robyn Mellow in her third Qdos
panto. She is also the object of desire of the giant who sees her more
along the lines of lunch rather than lust. She has a lovely voice which blends well with
Duncan James in their big duet, and along with Jane McDonald, it meant
the singing was of good quality throughout. They are supported by an enthusiastic ensemble
and children from Birmingham Stage School in what is a traditional panto
packed with a healthy dollop of feel good factor. There is even a
pantomime cow, Moo Moo who actually does a moo dance. Michael Harrison’s direction keeps everything
moving along through Ian Westbrook’s splendid panto designs while Robert
Willis and his six piece band sound much bigger than they are. A mention too for some dramatic and inventive
lighting from Ben Cracknell and beautifully balanced rounded sound from
Gareth Owen with every word, spoken or sung, clear as a bell and all at
a comfortable volume.
Roger Clarke
22-12-14
|
|
|
Contents page Hippodrome Reviews A-Z Reviews by Theatre Tweet |
|
|
|
