I didn’t go to a panto the other day. Oh yes I did! It was Jack and the Beanstalk at the Redbridge Drama Centre and it even turned out to have a bit of a Theatretrain connection.
I haven’t always been a fan of pantos but I’ve grown to like them again. This one was great. There was funny and fast patter between the outrageous Dame and her son, a quick witted Jack. They sang well – especially an alternative version of the Twelve Days of Christmas which they did as they hung out the washing. Full marks to Jack for singing it at double speed as he collected it all up on his own after the song . Oh yes and we really loved/dreaded his use of the water pistol machine gun on one of the lines.
They even involved me in the show as the rent collector. It was only a small part – what actors like to call a ‘cough and a spit’ – but they gave me a fancy cloak and a sign to hang round my neck saying “villain” so I got a few boos and hisses. That was fun.
The show was the type that could tour to schools and it had an attractive portable and brightly coloured set. I also liked the clever use of props like the Giant’s hands.
All the characters were played by 4 actors and me of course. Haha. The pace crackled and zipped along to its finale and with so much interaction between the performers and the audience we loved it. It never dragged and the humour could be enjoyed by adults and young children.
I dashed backstage after to return my costume and to congratulate Jack who was a Theatretrain student a few years ago while Daisy the cow was played by our own Jack – company director at Theatretrain Loughton. Not only that but it was all directed by Gemma Eves, company director at Theatretrain Waltham Forest. I wish them well for the rest of the run. It was a great start to the festive season.
A nice touch as we went out was that every member of the audience was given a gold coin (from the giant) – chocolate of course.
