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IF THE secret of a successful pantomime is a hilarious script,
good story and fun characters, Jack and the Beanstalk has it.
If
the secret is enhanced by a deafeningly loud audience, this year's
panto is a stormer.
The
age old tale of Jack and his mother, who climb the beanstalk to
steal the giant's hen to pay their rent, is given the magical Attic
touch with the addition of several new characters and lots of
topical humour.
The
Gladiators are there, the Power Rangers and Willie Miller jokes get
a good airing - and they all share the stage tith Mr Tradition
himself, Santa Claus.
As
usual. a strong line-up of leading characters paves the way for a
fast-moving musical show.
Debbie Boyd and Sharon Grimmond are the golden goodies, Jack and his
girlfriend Prudence, while smiley newcomer Karen Evans captured the
kindness and humour of the Good Fairy role.
Hilarious slapstick moments were left to the excellent partnership
of Stuart Mearns as Simple Simon and Ashley Walker as a wonderful
Effie the dame.
And
of course, the giant himself was brought to the stage in the form of
an all-moving, walking, talking ogre puppet, who leaned out over the
audience menacingly - much to the delight of the Brownies in the
front row!
But dare I say it, it was the baddie who stole the show for me -
Graeme Pirie as a camp Rocky Horror-esque Sir Jasper was
hilarious.
Staging, costumes, music and imaginatively direction all helped
put the seal on another success in Attic Panto's long history.
Sonja Rasmussen
Thursday 8 December 1994 |
