Jack and the Beanstalk
Review by Sam
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Some magic beans have been planted at the New Wimbledon Theatre this Christmas for their magically festive family pantomime!
Jack and the Beanstalk has been given a fresh coat of paint in this fun retelling of the classic story. Featuring all the pantomime fun that audience have come to know and love, this production stands out from the rest with its slick performances and beautiful choreography that will leave you reeling with joy more so than any other show this festive season. The production budget is nearly as high as the beanstalk itself, as the show bursts at the seams with dazzling effects and spectacular magic that will guarantee an amazing night out for all the family.
The entire ensemble are brilliantly entertaining and work tirelessly to ensure that fun is at the forefront of the show at all times. Alexandra Burke revisits the villanious role she last played at the London Palladium, bringing even more energy and amusement on this second outting. Hearing her comically segway into a rendition of Bad Boys and Hallelujah will never get old! Other stand outs in the cast were the impecable talent of Benjamin Yates and Ceri Dupree, who help to bring the laughter by the bucket load. Elevating an already stacked cast is a truly phenomenal performance from comedy legend Joe Pasquale.
Pasquale is quite literally scene stealing throughout, generating the biggest laughs and showcasing the pure brilliance of his comical talent. His skill for comedy and improv knows no bounds, as multiple incidents caused not just the audience but the cast to burst into fits of laughter. There were too many occasions in which it was hard to tell whether things were going wrong and improvised, or rather the entire farce was scripted. Not being able to distinguish the two apart is the sign of a perfect panto which for the most part this is!
Jack and the Beanstalk is a truly triumphant Fe-Fi-Fo-Fun show for all the family. It’s guaranteed to leave you in fits of laughter as this extremely talented cast and crew bring the magic of panto to Wimbledon this Christmas.