We all know the story right? Jack the pauper sells a cow for some beans and has to climb the beanstalk to save his family by fighting the giant?
Think again, because this is the Chippy panto after all, where nothing is at it seems and instead Jack & the Beanstalk takes us on a wild ride to Smorgasbord where two Anglo-Saxons – Jack and his mother Gertie – work for the Vikings in the kitchens of Norse chief Olaf Billybookcase. READ ABOUT IT HERE
Never mind that Gertie the Dame (played with a twinkle by Andy Cryer) and Olaf (Roger Parkins who also plays the giant) are madly in love, or that Olaf’s youngest daughter Pipsqueak (an effervescent Maddison Nixon) and Jack (Josh Rosewood who makes his theatrical debut here) can’t take their eyes off each other.
Because trouble is at bay, not just when Daisy the cow (the brilliant Ruth Brotherton) starts talking, singing and dancing, or Gertie’s displays a penchant for extraordinary outfits (Ikea dresses, baked bean shirts, light shade head dresses, Viking longships, nothing is sacred thanks to costume designer Emily Stuart) or as Gertie puts while in her gym gear ‘Not so much sweaty Betty as Flirty Gerty.
Even Olaf’s love of feather dusters are no match for his eldest daughter Inge Kilppansofa’s wrath. Because Inge (the wonderfully maverick Ailsa Joy) is on the warpath (cue much booing) and desperate to make the Vikings great again by seizing the crown from her father and ensuring the battles, pillaging and conquering continue. No more peace.
No one is safe it seems, especially the Anglo-Saxons who are made to feel most unwelcome, a brilliant way to turn the tables on racism and xenophobia.
But there is one problem, the giant, who unbeknownst to them all is living a peaceful existence up the beanstalk tending to his flowers and washing his extremely large pants, has been tricked by Inge to destroy Jack, and all hell breaks loose.
Oh what a joy it was to sit back and laugh, tap our feet in time to the brilliant music and songs (big nod to Sarah Travis), smile wryly at the adult innuendoes and just enjoy the ride created by director John Terry.
Because Chippy is so good at pantos, choosing a brilliant cast to carry us along in Smorgasbord, albeit via a Thor-wheel drive Fjord, Viking longboats, a mousetrap prison, ruined castle and of course up the beanstalk.
The script was inspired, writer Stephen Mitchell teasing us with our love for steak & kidney pies, quiche, lumpy custard, queues, cricket, emotional awkwardness and passive aggressive complaining, as Gertrude dreams of returning to the motherland to open a guest house in Scarborough.
And while all the right accruements are evident, from sweet throwing, to audience participation via singing, dancing and some feather duster tickling, it’s in a much less predictable format as we all joined in with gusto.
A joyful, fun and exhilarating festive show that reminds you of all the important things in life – family, community, kindness and love, with a bundle of laughs, sniggers and outright guffawing by young and old thrown in for good measure. Or as the cast would say “blimmin fantastic.”
Jack & the Beanstalk runs until January 12 at Chipping Norton Theatre. Book at https://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/events/jack-and-the-beanstalk
