Billingham Forum Theatre: Jack and the Beanstalk

THE audience braved all weathers inside the theatre as rain from the gods descended the beginning of the show – leading those in the stalls to put up their hoods – later making way for a glittering finale with snow falling from the ceiling of the retro 1960s auditorium.

Benidorm’s Danny Walters capably heads the cast as Jack, with a surprisingly lovely singing voice, while Lola Saunders, an X Factor finalist in 2014, sang powerfully into her microphone as the Princess, Jack’s love interest.

Craig Ansell, returning as Pantomime Dame for the fourth year, sported some lavish costumes and provided all the expected one-liners. It was comedy double act the Harper brothers – sons of Bobby Ball – who stole the show with their take on the Money Supermarket advert.

It had all the compulsory sprinklings of panto magic, with ghosts “behind you”, some astonishingly lame jokes, lashings of audience participation and a pantomime cow very adept at tap dancing – no easy feat, I can imagine. Kurtis Stacey, Emmerdale’s Alex Moss, was the slimy villain Fleshcreep and Billingham’s own Victoria Holtom was Jack’s fairy godmother, Fairy Bean.

Songs belted out by the cast included Little Mix’s Black Magic, I’m a Believer by the Monkees and Saunders’ formidable rendition of Sam Smith’s Stay with Me – something for all ages.

It was only the third night in and the cast looked like they were having a whale of a time, their enthusiasm rubbing off on the audience.

* Jack and the Beanstalk runs until Sunday, January 8. Matinee and evening performances run every day, except Friday December 9 and 16, until Christmas. Box Office: forumtheatrebillingham.co.uk or 01642-552663. Tickets: £16 to £19.50.

Julia Breen

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