At Loving the Cotswolds, we chose REVIEW: Jack and the Beanstalk, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham as part of our 101 reasons because it captures something distinctive about this much-loved part of England.
On this page we look at what makes it special, with details including Theatre Reviews, Jack and the Beanstalk and Everyman Theatre, and a little of the context that helps you see it as more than just another stop on the map.
26/11/2016
We were promised the Everyman’s most gigantic pantomime yet – and we weren’t disappointed.
Having been bowled over by last year’s production of Cinderella, I was intrigued to see if the Everyman could do it again with Jack and the Beanstalk.
Having been bowled over by last year’s production of Cinderella, I was intrigued to see if the Everyman could do it again with Jack and the Beanstalk.
But they have developed a winning formula and have two trump cards in the shape of Tweedy the Clown, returning for his fifth pantomime at the Everyman, and William Elliott enjoying his tenth outing playing the Dame.
The familiar storyline was given plenty of twists, such as Tweedy playing Jack’s brother – Dame Trott’s other son Sillie Billie Tweedy – and Natalie Taylor Gray playing the Mayor’s daughter Jill, Jack’s love interest.
Andrew Westfield made the audience cower and hiss as the villainous Fleshcreep, but my five-year-old son Noah spent the whole first half desperate the see his master Giant Blunderbore (Frank Simms) and when he finally appeared after the interval, let’s just say Noah wasn’t disappointed.
I won’t even attempt to describe the Giant’s appearance as I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone going to see the panto, but let’s just say he was rather large and absolutely enthralling for this particular five-year-old.
The song and dance routines were terrific spectacles, with music spanning the decades from Cole Porter’s Anything Goes to Justin Timberlake.
Jack was played with enthusiastic vigour by Frankie Jones and Gillian Elisa played the hovering Eco Fairy with gusto, although her microphone could have been turned up a little.
But the most enjoyable bits revolved around Tweedy, who used his top drawer circus skills to entertain an admiring audience, even before the curtain went up.
Tweedy’s fan club stretches far and wide and you could even buy Tweedy dolls in the foyer.
Tweedy and William Elliott have developed a terrific partnership that makes the Everyman panto every bit as entertaining as any you’re likely to see this festive season.
An example of their knockabout humour came when Dame Trott said: “I’ve come over all funny!”
“That’s the first time this panto,” a cheeky Tweedy replied.
After a thoroughly enjoyable first night in which only a couple of things seemed to go slightly wrong (which made them even funnier), our family journeyed home singing Why Does a Brown Cow Give White Milk?
We had a wonderful time with my wife telling her Facebook friends to “Go, go, go” to the panto.
David Wood
Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, until January 8. Box Office: 01242 572573.
The familiar storyline was given plenty of twists, such as Tweedy playing Jack’s brother – Dame Trott’s other son Sillie Billie Tweedy – and Natalie Taylor Gray playing the Mayor’s daughter Jill, Jack’s love interest.
Andrew Westfield made the audience cower and hiss as the villainous Fleshcreep, but my five-year-old son Noah spent the whole first half desperate the see his master Giant Blunderbore (Frank Simms) and when he finally appeared after the interval, let’s just say Noah wasn’t disappointed.
I won’t even attempt to describe the Giant’s appearance as I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone going to see the panto, but let’s just say he was rather large and absolutely enthralling for this particular five-year-old.
The song and dance routines were terrific spectacles, with music spanning the decades from Cole Porter’s Anything Goes to Justin Timberlake.
Jack was played with enthusiastic vigour by Frankie Jones and Gillian Elisa played the hovering Eco Fairy with gusto, although her microphone could have been turned up a little.
But the most enjoyable bits revolved around Tweedy, who used his top drawer circus skills to entertain an admiring audience, even before the curtain went up.
Tweedy’s fan club stretches far and wide and you could even buy Tweedy dolls in the foyer.
Tweedy and William Elliott have developed a terrific partnership that makes the Everyman panto every bit as entertaining as any you’re likely to see this festive season.
An example of their knockabout humour came when Dame Trott said: “I’ve come over all funny!”
“That’s the first time this panto,” a cheeky Tweedy replied.
After a thoroughly enjoyable first night in which only a couple of things seemed to go slightly wrong (which made them even funnier), our family journeyed home singing Why Does a Brown Cow Give White Milk?
We had a wonderful time with my wife telling her Facebook friends to “Go, go, go” to the panto.
David Wood
Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, until January 8. Box Office: 01242 572573.
