JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Camberley Theatre
With everything that is going on in the world at the moment, sometimes you need a break; something to take your mind off events happening all around us.
And the panto at Camberley does just that.
It’s a couple of hours of fun and laughter – and groaning at some of the tired old jokes that are so very much of festive theatre.
There are no big names – that didn’t stop the panto at the same theatre being nominated for three top awards in 2019 – but it loses nothing for that.
Sure, it lacks the polish of the West End. But the youngsters in the audience didn’t care one jot.
Jack (Luke Drewell) was fun. Jill (Betty Jones) had a singing voice that would wow those West End audiences. The baddie Fleshcreep – played by show director Suzi Budd – has a cackle that would curdle a vampire’s blood.
Thomas Andrew Smith as Colin the trainee fairy had the young audience on his side all night. When he got his wings (hey, that’s not a spoiler – this is pantoland after all, where everything turns out just fine and everyone lives happily ever after ) it brought the biggest cheer of the night.
Special mention has to go to Matt Ian Kelly as panto dame Dolly Trott, who sprinkles the magic on the stage and indulges in some innovative audience participation, and to Josh Harvey as Simple Simon Trott, who delivers most of the gags, makes the children chuckle at his antics and the adults smile at the jokes that are aimed at a slightly older clientele...
The lighting effects are great, although the sound levels have their moments, and the appearance of the giant Blunderbore had some younger audience members cowering – but then we all remember hiding behind the settee at Dr Who’s foes back in the day.
So sit back, let the silliness wash over you and be transported to the town of Little Camberley On The M3. It’s everything a traditional panto should be.
Colin Channon