Jack and the Beanstalk, York Theatre Royal, December 2023

Photos by S R Taylor Photography

Jack and the Beanstalk has taken root at York Theatre Royal, and we’ve bean to see it. Here’s what we thought…

Dame for a Laugh

Robin Simpson returns and continues to delight as the dame. Simpson is a master of comic timing, and knows how to take the spotlight but also let others shine. Gags fly thick and fast, and his Elton John pastiche is a joy. There’s a new Legend in town, and we’re thrilled he’s returning for Aladdin in 2024.

Expect fabulous outfits too. The Clifford’s Tower inspired number is a real showstopper, and the best frock-homage to the city we’ve seen. Dame costume designers Michael J Batchelor and Hazel Fall have done wonderful work.

CBeebies star James Mackenzie is the panto baddie, Luke Backinanger (get it?!) Adorned with black feathers as a nod to his hit show Raven, he relishes the boos and hisses and has a boy-band backstory to boot! His Freudian exchanges on the therapist’s couch add another dimension, and his Swedish Helga is a treat.

Nina Wadia is another telly favourite, and plays Fairy Sugarsnap. She isn’t the saccharine-sweet fairy that can so often grate, and adds a fun flair to the role.

Jack – here in fact Jacqueline – is your typical hero (heroine?) but thankfully the writer avoided any kind of tiresome love story. Played by Mia Overfield she has great vocals and plenty of panache.

Billy (Matthew Curnier) has great energy, but would benefit from more opportunities for silliness and slapstick to really make his mark as the comic male. In the second act his giant balloon antics are fun, and this gets him some of the bigger laughs.

Mooving On

Gone are the front and back halves of the traditional panto cow, here Anna Soden plays Dave the anthropomorphic talking cow upright on two legs. A mooving performance and a welcome twist with an udderly brilliant outfit. An unexpected highlight, Soden shows a range of emotions as the cow – and even plays the trumpet!

This year there’s a dog act too, somewhat shoehorned into the first act. Nonetheless, it works – and Zeus is a four-legged star! Expertly trained with plenty of tricks by Anna Auster…this audience gave plenty of ‘aaaahs’ and a big round of a-paws. His interaction with Dame Trot (especially in The Tunnel of Doom) is pure magic. I feel Zeus should’ve returned to help save the day in the second act.

Musically, the live band is excellent and the sound is rich and balanced. Many of the songs are forgettable though, except for the opening number This is a Pantomime. This set the scene brilliantly, introducing the set, principal characters and dancers. Other song choices are strange; an Eminem rap is dated and the songsheet is predictable. Cow Wash is one of the better songs, but a missed opportunity for bubbles.

Bean there, done that?

In some ways it seems that this year’s offering is trying to replicate the Theatre Royal pantos of old…from the York video sequence to a largely nonsensical and convoluted plot. We don’t feel these nods to previous shows are needed. When Evolution Productions first arrived at the Theatre Royal, they breathed new life into the festive schedule, and we like that the shows have been refreshingly different.

Overall, whilst Jack and the Beanstalk isn’t quite as pacey or sharply written as the previous two shows, it is still a more inventive and enjoyable production than most. As a pun-lover, I’m pleased to say the show is full of ‘em. Many go over children’s heads – especially the very specific dog-breed gags and Elton John song jokes – but there are some real rib-ticklers for all ages too.

Fun, laughter and plenty of festive magic. All in all, a great production that sprouts a few new ideas but keeps the traditional elements well-watered. Speaking of water, our mini Hatters loved the audience water fight!

MAGIC RATING