Jack and the Beanstalk – What a Whopper! Book by Jon Bradfield & Martin Hooper, music by Jon Bradfield.Charing Cross theatre, London until 11 January 2025, 2☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Steve Gregson.

Jack and the Beanstalk – What a Whopper! Book by Jon Bradfield & Martin Hooper, music by Jon Bradfield,.Charing Cross theatre, the Arches, Villiers Street, London until 11 January 2025,

2☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“For so-called adults only.”

Adult pantomime can be many things – witty and wonderful when done by some, truly vulgar and depressing when done by others and this second offering from the team which gave the world Sleeping Beauty takes a Prick at this theatre last year falls in to the latter category. The cast work hard, the sets are colourful, the costumes surprising and Matthew Baldwin as Dame Dolly Trott knows how to hold an audience even when her material is dreadful. Her son, Jack, played by Keanu Adolphus Johnson, has legs and thighs for slapping, as principal boys should, and being this sort of show is gay and keeps getting into holes, while fancying the village vicar. It comes as no surprise that the beanstalk resulting from the magic beans turns out to be an erect phallus at the moment of climax. Innuendo is the stuff of adult pantomime but here it is more a case of in your hole, oh!. Not the best double entendre perhaps but up to the level on stage. To even things up sexually Simple Simon is Simple Simone and fancies spare girl in the chorus – this allows for lesbian jokes - while the presence of the vicar allows for one about the Archbishop of Canterbury. Just when you think things can sink no lower the show obliges.

To be fair, the audience laughed a lot, joined in the obligatory sing along about the grand old Duke of York going up bottoms, and appeared to be having a good time but compared to last year's show by the same team this one is not an improvement. That all the gains made in the name of gay liberation should lead to shows like this is a sobering thought. Pantomimes can be many things and there is nothing wrong with adult humour – had there been any on show – but this is one where you spends your money at your own convenience so to speak. Personally I would keep my penny and go elsewhere for a little light relief.

Cast

Chris Lane – Dale.

Keanu Adolphus Johnson – Jack.

Jordan Stamatiadis – Lady Fleshcreep.

Matthew Baldwin – Dame Dolly Trott.

Laura Anna-Mead – Simone.

Reverend Tim – Joe Grundy.

Ensemble – Laura Buhagiar, Caitlin Swanton, Fin Walton.

Dame Dora Herd – the Cow.

Creatives

Director – Andrew beckett.

Musical Director – Aaron Clingham.

Choreographer – Carole Todd.

Set Designer – David Shields.

Costume Designers – Robert Draper & Sandy Lloyd.

Lighting Designer – Matthew Hockley.

Sound Designer – Andrew Johnson.

Theatre, pantomime, 28 November 2024.

Photo Credit – Steve Gregson.