Endearing, hilarious and magical, this year’s Nottingham Playhouse panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, has officially begun! Written and directed by the venue’s artistic director, Adam Penford, and starring the beloved John Elkington as Dame Daisy Trott and Finton Flynn as Jack Trott, alongside an extremely talented cast, this is a wonderful production that is sure to leave you with a gigantic amount of festive spirit.
So much about this pantomime is naturally funny, and so, as a result, Penford is able to squeeze in so many different types of comedy - daft jokes, hysterical jokes, physical comedy - it’s all in there, making for nothing but an overwhelmingly entertaining time! A myriad of pantomime conventions also make an appearance, which really help to foster the audience-actors relationship and make the whole audience sit into the lovely feeling of watching a panto.
The production does begin on a slight backfoot as we are introduced to all of the characters and the exposition (a bold word to put in a pantomime review), but after it sets in, the fun and charm never stop! The topical references are fantastic and it’s so wonderful to see a pantomime that’s paid so much close attention to its design aspects, which brings the whole thing together and pulls the story in. The set and costumes designed by Cleo Pettitt bring lots of colour and whimsy splashing onto the stage, likewise does Tim Mitchell’s lighting design. The sound design by Paul Groothuis isn’t the most effective when it comes to the resonance of the actors’ microphones, making it quite discomforting to hear when the performers are singing, however, the lush and fullness brought to the entirety of the panto’s music is palpably felt.
The songs featured in the production are well selected and Rosanna Bates’ accompanying choreography is full of energy, mixing a commercial style with more traditionally-styled musical theatre movement.
Elkington makes an outstanding dame. They are instantly heartwarming and have such a brilliant way of speaking to people of all ages in the audience so everyone feels a part of the show. The way they slowly walk on each time in a new one of Pettitt’s costumes and walk around on a spot to show it off is hilarious! Flynn’s performance as Jack Trott isn’t the most engaging, likewise, neither is Bradley Judge’s as Silly Billy Trott, with both of them being able to go further to connect to the audience, which can conjoin with the already brilliant part of their characters they both play which is the pure character, storybook archetype of them.
Jewelle Hutchinson as Jill does both of these things masterfully, as well as possessing an incredible voice! The slightly different way in which Penford and Hutchinson have angled Hutchinson’s Jill in relation to the romance aspect of their character is fantastic and such a great alteration to how female pantomime protagonists have been positioned in the past. Tom Hopcroft puts full vigour into Fleshcreep, Giant Blunderbore’s henchman, Caroline Parker is lovely as the Fairy Godmother - and it’s also highly appreciated how, because Parker is deaf, they BSL interpret all of their lines, which is such a beautiful piece of inclusion - and Alice Redmond’s sardonic Pat the Cow is a real highlight!
A massive congratulations and round of applause must also go to the two alternating teams of children who are performing in Jack and the Beanstalk this year. On press night, Team Biggins were performing, and they all were all fantastic, really being put to task by Bates’ choreography and executing it exquisitely!
An utterly hilarious, delightful and festive time, Jack and the Beanstalk is sure to provide the whole family with a wonderful experience this Christmas!
Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the Nottingham Playhouse until 18th January 2025.
★★★★ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Pamela Raith
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