Synopsis Jack, a dim boy, sells the family's cow, their last remaining possession, for some 'magic beans', his mother is furious and throws them out of the window. Next morning there is a magic beanstalk, which Jack climbs to the land of the giant. There he rescues the love interest, and the goose that lays the golden eggs and runs away as the giant returns booming 'fee, fie, foe, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman!' and occasionally 'Be he alive or be he dead I'll grind his bones to make my bread' depending on how bloodthirsty the panto is! As the giant follows Jack down the beanstalk Jack grabs an axe and chops it down thus killing the him.
After a break of a few years, Andy Gray has rejoined the long-standing King's panto threesome, completed by Allan Stewart and Grant Stott. Stewart, one of the best panto Dames around, makes an impressive entrance and also has a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang moment hovering over the stalls. It isn't the gadgetry that you remember though - it is Stewart's Dame May McTrott's instant rapport with the audience, warmth and great humour. Stott makes a good baddy and Gray is welcome back.
Jack and the Beanstalk may not be the strongest of the panto tales but the story gets rather sidelined in this version, co-written and directed by Paul Elliot. There is no doubt that this is a big budget panto with impressive sets and costumes Hugh Durrant and good use of technology. However, while the big set-pieces are entertaining and well done, the rather perfunctory execution of Jack's tale, is to the detriment of the show as a whole.
That said , it is good to see the old team reunited and the panto is colourful, funny and entertaining enough.
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