Jack and the Beanstalk

Bath Drama

Rondo Theatre, Bath

The company had a tough job climbing this particular beanstalk on Wednesday's opening night, what with only half an audience and two last-minute changes of cast.

But in good theatrical tradition the show must go on.

Despite a hesitant start, by the finish – especially after three rounds of pretty much compulsory audience participation in the singing of Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo – Bath Drama was roundly applauded for its efforts.

The stars of the Bibbidi-Bobbidi experience were the exuberant Joel Lintern – hugely funny throughout the show as Dozy Den – and Guy Smallwood, stepping lightly into the not inconsiderable part of Prime Minister with just one week's notice.

Like true pros they joked and cajoled until they had the audience joining in, well, almost lustily, and certainly on their side, until it was time for curtain up on the final wedding scene.

Director Sue Le Page serves up traditional panto fare of magic, romance, slapstick, farce and dreadful jokes in this jolly version of Jack and the Beanstalk written by Damian Trasler, David Lovesy and Steve Clark.

The songs are good with a fine duet in I Need a Hero, sung by Emilie Giotti (Princess Rose) and Olivia Hussey (Petal) and a funny, if slightly less than confidently performed, number called A Witch's Lot is Not a Happy One.

Alex Oliviere-Davies, also in good voice, makes a confident Idle Jack while Derek Le Page clearly enjoys holding centre stage as Dame Trott. Other stars are Charlotte Howard, vampishly excellent as the evil Poison Ivy who pits her wits against the delightful Fairy Beansprout (Lesley Castens) - until good triumphs as it should in pantoland and she loses her power and her wand to Dozy Den.

Special praise should go to Buttercup the cow, played by Amy and Lucy Baldwin who manage some sprightly tap dancing, not to mention running around the auditorium. It can't be easy if you're the back end of a cow.

The sets are good, with a colourful village and scaled-up giant's kitchen, and Moray Macdonald provides excellent keyboard accompaniment.

The production offers lots of silliness, laughter and the opportunity to boo, hiss and of course sing Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo several times over.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs until January 15 with the last performance on Sunday at 2.30pm. For other times and tickets call the Bath Festivals box office on 01225 463362.

Jackie Chappell