Reader Reviews
Jack and the Beanstalk (Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Outer London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Only 2 stars as I felt what was on show was rubbish - sort of university drama department effort but, and it's a big but, it does have potential. There was too much of a Andy Nyman's irritating professor Goodman to start with and too few scary bits. However, it did make me think why someone else hasn't tried this idea before, The Woman In Black excepted. With a major rewrite, lots more scary bits, then I would not be surprised if a run in the West End would not be out of the question. Oh, and why the Jewish thing? That should be dropped for starters. But apart from that I wish them all good luck their original piece of theatre. - rds | 08 Apr 10 |
| There's not much difference in the dames of Christopher Biggins and John Inman - Martyn Ellis didn't perform as either (and did a pretty much good, if occasionaly uncomfortably blue job). The story was hindered by the attempt to be beyond traditional and do away with elements that aid the story, such as a fairy and pathos. However, the energy was superb. The use of the cow as the comic was inspired and very effective (not confusing, as the reviewer might suggest) and the giant was THE best I have ever seen. It is fantastic to see a theatre try and reinvent a genre rather than relying on a structure that already exists, for success. However, a little more confidence in tradition might have improved the production and scaled down the necessity for references to Hammersmith. - Rob | 30 Nov 09 |
