Jack and The Beanstalk

This version of Jack and the Beanstalk is set during the Viking age. This was a very clever device, and allowed the creative team to use Norse mythology, as well as more modern Scandinavian cultural references (more of that shortly).  As director John Terry writes in the programme “We wanted to explore a world in which giants might conceivably exist”. This actually works very well, and makes a refreshing new take on this familiar tale. So rather than the usual medieval look of Jack and the Beanstalk, the design was allowed to go off in a different direction, and costume and make up benefitted from this different setting.

So, we were transported to the town of Smorgasbord, under Viking rule, but with a couple of Anglo-Saxons in Jack and his mum Gertrude, terrifically played by Josh Rosewood and Andy Cryer. Inga Klippansofa is in a power struggle with her Viking father Olaf Billybookcase. So here you start to see the start of the more modern scandi cultural references….and very effective they are too.   A particular highlight being the blue and gold dress that Gertrude wears mid way through, made from a very famous large blue handled bag from a certain store!

The cast were all extremely good. Very tightly rehearsed and confident. I especially liked Ailsa Joy’s Inga and Ruth Brotherton’s Daisy, as well as Andy Cryer’s Gertrude. But everyone was good in this production, even the small number of youth cast. We had the Green Beanstalks last night, and special mention should go to Lucy Eyles, Isla Morris, Aliya Nixon and Vivi Walkden, who really made their marks on stage.  If I were to be picky, I’d say it would have been better had they been miked up, as they were a little quieter than their adult counterparts, but nonetheless, they all had lovely character parts, and versatility throughout and some lovely comic timing. We particularly liked Morton - Aha!