Jack and the Beanstalk panto at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre – review

Fee fi fo fum, panto season has begun! Lyric Hammersmith’s pantomime transforms the classic story of Jack and the Beanstalk into a modern tale, with all the magic and charm as we go along on an adventure.

Upon entering the auditorium, the stage is set with an elaborately designed map featuring Hammersmith landmarks – from the Apollo to the Underground to, of course, Primark.

Joey James performs the leading role as Jack, a nervous young student who finds courage through his imaginary friend, Sockface. When Jack and his sister Jill (Sienna Widd) transfer to Fleshcreep Academy, they meet their miserable headteacher, who bans the pupils from singing, dancing, and using their imagination. If they break these rules, they face being sent to “The Giant”.

After a run-in with the headteacher, Fleshcreep (played by John Partridge), Jack must find the confidence to face the Giant and save his peers. With a sprinkle of magic, he is joined by his mum and Fairy Godfather on a fun and silly escapade.

Lyric Hammersmith’s pantomimes pride themselves on being creative and playful, as well as progressive in comparison to the traditional offerings. Written by Sonia Jalaly and directed by Nicholai La Barrie, this production joyously encourages the audience to embrace their imagination. In the opening scenes, we are introduced to the Fairy Godfather’s Imagination Meter. The neon-coloured scale increases the more the characters use their own imagination. It is a unique visual, though slightly underutilised, and the magical beanstalk reveal feels a little underwhelming. Still, these moments heighten the anticipation as the dramatis personae prepare for their quest.

The production has all the traditional panto ingredients: audience participation, collective call-and-response and an entertaining cast.

James is wonderful and impressively versatile as Jack, boasting beautiful vocals, slick dance moves and great rap skills, particularly during the exciting “Speak Up” number. Widd brings confidence and sass to Jill, delivering witty lines and giving us a cheeky moonwalk off stage.

Sam Harrison graces the stage as Momma Trott, donning extravagant and delightfully camp costumes, designed by Georgia Lowe. The performance is enjoyable, though the energy could be ramped up somewhat to meet the larger-than-life dame tradition.

Partridge is a committed villain as Fleshcreep, relishing every moment as the audience booes right on cue. One standout moment sees him performing in an Argentine tango-inspired routine, to “Pretty Fly for a Mad Guy”.

Jade Hackett’s charismatic Fairy Godfather is a total joy to watch. Their comedic timing, mannerisms, and overall stage presence keep the momentum going every time they appear on stage.

Completing the cast are Gabriela Benedetti, Harriet Caplan-Dean, Robert Donnelly and Rachel Seirian. The ensemble brings enthusiasm and so much humour in their various roles. A highlight is their performance during “Where’s My Husband?”. The choreography by Kayla Lomas-Kirton is executed brilliantly, as are all of the dance numbers.

The clever and catchy musical direction by Adam Gerber includes mash-ups of songs from Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and more. The arrangements are beautiful too; however, the band often overpowers the cast, making it difficult to catch all the lyrics.

Although the show has a lot of heart, the story occasionally falls flat. The plot includes several tangents, and feels like it is losing focus from the main (and simple) core of the fairytale. The pace begins slowly, though this soon picks up pace once the characters set out to face the Giant.

Overall, Jack and the Beanstalk is an uplifting pantomime, with a wholesome message for audiences of all ages. It’s certainly inspired me to be more imaginative!