Review - Jack and the Beanstalk at the Birmingham Hippodrome (until January 30)
HAVING completely missed I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! I hadn't warmed to Joe Pasquale the way the rest of the nation has. That was until I saw him in the eponymous role in Jack and the Beanstalk at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Pasquale's trademark squeaky voice becomes funny and charming in the technicolor world of panto and you have to give the writers their dues for what must have been a hasty re-write to fit in all the jungle jokes.
Letitia Dean, best known for her role as Sharon in Eastenders, sparkles as Princess Apricot with a cute giggle, good-enough singing voice and a genuine sense she was enjoying herself.
Birmingham's own Don Maclean had the grown-ups roaring at the more adult humour while Charlie Cairoli as the King was the source of toilet humour for the giggling children of which the Hurst Street theatre was jam-packed.
The real star of the show, however, was the memorable sets, something the Hippodrome always excels at.
A beanstalk grew to the roof of the theatre, a huge giant snored, snuffled and raised his eyebrows, a car whizzed through the city centre streets of Birmingham and fake snow rained down on the audience.
It all made for a magical experience, which I can thoroughly recommend.
Kate Hughes
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