|  | A good team effort. A story well told, well presented, and well performed. No weak links, no TV celebrities proving they can't act, and no in-jokes that exclude the audience.
A production that starts at walking pace, builds up to a jog and finishes with a sprint - literally.
Ben Crocker's Jack and the Beanstalk includes hardly any local or indeed, national references, and seems to encamp itself somewhere in a kitsch central European rustic Ruritarian world.
A fantasy world without a link to the world around us. A shame, when there are many potential cultural and visual references in the area that could have been included to add another layer to the dialogue or the set.
 | | Fairy Evergreen (Jane Bellamy) |
With its impossibly brightly painted houses and colours that only a playgroup would use, the sets and the costumes come from a virtual panto world disconnected from reality.
However, these ingredients, the design, lighting, slapstick humour and the sound effects will appeal to every primary school child across the playground.
But for mums and dads, and teenagers, there are few, if any Carry-On jokes and adult asides to chuckle at.
And there was little for glamour-starved adults to look at: the female hemlines were a little long and no male shirt buttons undone.
It is a clean production that offends nobody and appeals chiefly to the under tens.
Steve Bennett was an energetic and forceful Dame Dottie, choreographing many of the scenes and using his powerful stage presence to whip the audience into near-hysteria by the final curtain.
 | | The giant |
His costumes were a series of shocking surprises that almost merit a show on their own, such was their visual impact.
Jack, played by Reanne Farley, combined neatly with Princess Felicia acted by Louise Clayton. These two have fine voices, with Louise Clayton's rendition from a prison cell of Castle On A Cloud, being particularly evocative.
Reanne Farley worked hard as the principal boy and displayed all the credentials: good legs, a winning smile and an audience-friendly personality.
Daisy the Cow, performed by Jane Bellamy and Torquil Home was a pedigree pantomime cow. Good coordination, with lots of movement, an excellent costume, real milk dripping from her udders; and that all important aspect for tiny theatre-goers: cuddliness.
One of the strongest performances was from Katherine Fullam who excelled herself as Jumping Joan.
Bouncing around at all times, with her twin ponytails appearing to defy gravity, Joan's infectious character was a winner with children.
 | | Demon Pestblight (Jeffery Harmer) |
Demon Pestblight (Jeffery Harmer) was a good baddie, but in Crocker's production is never allowed to be downright evil.
He encourages the boos and hisses, but one felt that deep down he was only a naughty boy who had gone a bit wrong.
As such, Fairy Evergreen played by Jane Bellamy was never going to be outgunned by him in their confrontations, and it was clear that although a handful, she had him clearly in her sights.
Gordon Cooper as the pompous official, and Colin Tarrant as a ridiculous King, portrayed the idiot grown-ups that children love to laugh at.
They were always on a winner with a receptive audience. Simple Simon played by Noel White was also good value achieving the right blend of affection and ridicule from the children that packed the theatre.
And there was a supporting chorus of dancers played by a group of youngsters who provided numbers in the village scenes and put themselves about a bit as evil cockroaches in the giant's castle.
With a live orchestra, lots of chases, a couple of decent punch-ups and a walking-talking giant, Ben Crocker's sugary day-glow panto keeps the audience's attention from the off, and maintains a fast pace right to the closing curtain. Cast: take a bow.
JACK & THE BEANSTALK:
Northcott Theatre, Exeter
Thur 9th Dec 2004-15th Jan 2005.
Tickets: £11 - £15.50 (concessions available)
Box Office: 01392 493493
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