Jack and the Beanstalk

Published Thursday 13 December 2007 at 11:55 by Graham Gurrin

Despite his physical absence this year from the Guildford pantomime, this has Paul Hendy stamped all over it. As writer and co-producer, he puts in all the right elements - slapstick dairy scene, ghost gag bench, excruciating jokes - to provide the Yvonne Arnaud audience with the traditional, family show it expects.

Stephanie Beacham and Liza Goddard are great fun, though Venus Flytrap obviously has more to get her teeth into than Fairy Sugar Snap, especially when threatening to feed the audience to the giant. Peter Duncan is excellent as Billy, involving the kids and getting covered in cream like the trooper he is. Relative newcomer Richard Meek is superb as Jack, as is Harriet Shore as Princess Tamara (cue lots of jokes ending “no, today!”). With their good looks and good voices, they complement each other perfectly. Guildford School of Acting provides the ensemble, well choreographed by Gerry Tebbutt, and its Saturday school provides the juveniles, who clearly enjoy themselves.

Local radio presenter Peter Gordon does a grand job as the King, and Royce Mills makes a wonderful dame, though he doesn’t change frocks as often as one would expect.

And what an effective giant!

Christopher Luscombe directs and Chris Macklin is musical director, leading a tight four-piece band.