‘JACK AND THE BEANSTALK’

STOCKPORT PLAZA

STARRING EX-BROOKSIDE ACTRESS AND LATELY WEST END STAR CLAIRE SWEENEY AND HI-DI-HI’S PAUL SHANE, THIS IS PANTO IN ITS TRADITIONAL SENSE.

STICKING FAIRLY CLOSELY TO THE TALE OF JACK, HIS MAGIC BEANS AND EVENTUAL DEFEAT OF THE EVIL GIANT, THIS PRODUCTION HAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT FOR A CHRISTMAS TREAT – A LIVE BAND, LOTS OF LAUGHS, PLENTY OF AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION, AND A GREAT BOO HISS BADDIE.

CLAIRE SWEENEY, NOT IN THE DEMURE ROLE OF THE PRINCESS ROSALINDE, A GREAT PERFORMANCE FROM PANTO REGULAR LUCIA MATISSE, BUT THE WICKED FAIRY BELLADONNA WHO KIDNAPS THE PRINCESS AND LEADS JACK UP THE BEANSTALK TO THE GIANTS LAIR TO RESCUE HER. RESPLENDENT IN SHIMMERING PURPLE, CACKLING SWEENEY RELISHED THE BOOS AND SANG HER NUMBERS LIKE THE ‘CHICAGO’ STAR SHE IS.

BUT SHE HAD COMPETITION ON THE SINGING FRONT FROM THE REST OF THE CAST. JACK, PLAYED BY CRAIG PERRY, SET THE PACE, AND BOTH LUCIA MATISSE AND PENNY CLARKE, WHO PLAYED THE GOOD FAIRY, PUT IN EXCEPTIONAL VOCAL PERFORMANCES. AND THE LAUGHS? STEVE LUCK MADE A GREAT OH-SO-SAUCY DAME AS JACK’S MOTHER AND YOU’RE NEVER VERY FAR FROM A HI-DI-HI GAG IF PAUL SHANE (THE KING) IS IN THE HOUSE. MICK DUNDEE AS SIMPLE SIMON HAD THE AUDIENCE EATING OUT OF HIS HAND, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN.

THE PLAZA HAS COME UP WITH A HUGE FESTIVE HIT AGAIN.

ABIGAIL KEMP.

JANUARY 2012.