RAPPORT FRINGE ... MARGINAAL VERSLAG ... FRINGE BERICHT
Reviewing fringe theatre, film, art and performance in London and internationally credits
venues
|
awards
|
interviews
|
features
|
fashion
|
newsletter
|
recipes
|
news
|
gossip
|
home
|
about
|
dublin
|
edinburgh
|
links
|
contact
|
drinks Monday 4 August 08
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Verdict: Jack's Magic!
London - Shaw Theatre - Dec 02 / Jan 03
Here's a magnificent Jack and The Beanstalk, a heart-warming Christmas delight that'll send you home singing.
Richard Costello's a magnificent Jack, swashbuckling (and water-pistol firing), dancing and singing to perfection. He's a charismatic Jack, great with the children and adults alike.
Jack mistakenly sells his mother's cow for a bag of beans. They grow into a beanstalk. Jack climbs it and finds himself in a giant's kingdom. He kills the giant, and wins a pretty princess as his bride.
This version preserves the traditional story, with plenty of up-to-date music for every age of child. It's a proper pantomime, and the audience - of several hundred children on this night - loved it.
Christopher Adamson's a magnificent Giant Grindbones, impressive in height and with a fetching line in wit. Charlotte Barwick's both a graceful handmaiden and a glorious front end of Buttercup the Cow.
Gary Chatel is a fine and gifted Simple Simon, pairing with Costello's Jack as brothers. Together they work the audience splendidly, and Chatel gives Simon a fine individuality for his solo scenes.
Rob Inglis is an excellent King Stoneybroke, with a delightful range of moods, it's a gifted performance. Ken Joy's a fabulous Dame Trott, a worthly successor to Arhur Askey's baton. He works the audience with the surest possible touch, in a funny and moving performance.
Nic Myers fairly crawls with sliminess as Fleshcreep. A superb actor, with the ability to create horror in a glance, Myers whips up a great storm of hisses and boos, the best tribute to his fine achievement. Colette Redgrave's a pretty and endearing Princess Marigold. A gifted dancer too, she performs with eloquence.
Jamie Waylett's an excellent Fleshcreep's Assistant, with a fine line in stage falls.
Kate Whistler's a glorious fairy, elegant, beautiful, charming and captivating - she holds the children in the audience in her spell. She dances with grace both on (very) high heels and points, and sprinkles her magic with reckless abandon.
One of four teams of children appears on stage at each performance. Between them Yellow Team, Red Team, Green Team total over 100 fine young performers, who contribute immensely to the staging and delight of the show.
The Senior Villagers team of young adults includes: Cleo Alexander, Jacqui Dabell, Lauren Hicks, Mathew Hicks, Kareen Lawrence.
The Street Dancers team, appearing in a number of performances, includes: Simon Aichi, Kwaku Asave, Melissa Gillespie, Ross Hammond, Duncan Robertson.
Chaperones include: Karen Gibson, Kathleen Mackey, Lisa Robertson, Sandy Robertson, Brenda Wood.
Company Credits: Pauline Smith, costumes. Liberty S Kelly, wardrobe supervisor. Michael Livermore, audio design. Karl Wustrau, lighting designer. (Uncredited), production manager. Nic Myers and Gary Chatel, choreographers. Kate Whistler, ballet choreographer. Jessica Chu, stage manager. Nigel Le Masurier, production manager. Tamasin Rhymes, scenic artist. Company - Creative Leisure Ltd. Other Credits: Paddy Crawley
Written and directed by Dick Ray.
END
John Park
reviewed Tuesday 17 December 02 / Shaw Theatre
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
