Jack and the Beanstalk

Published Wednesday 7 January 2009 at 14:20 by Derek Smith

Having a duo boasting 44 years together in showbusiness fronting any show, let alone a pantomime, can only help pull in the punters when other productions must have struggled getting full houses over the credit crunch Christmas. To a fair few in the audience, the names Cannon and Ball - playing the Giant’s henchmen - would have maybe meant little before taking their seats, but come the end, the old (one lady celebrating her 83rd birthday included), middle-aged and young would all have surely come away won over by their infectious enthusiasm, polished audience interaction skills and sublime silliness.

While they easily steal the show, around them there’s other fine performances from, for example, Barry Hester, excellent throughout as Dame Trot.

If there’s a criticism, an animated Mr Bean character seems superfluous, most kids being a bit nonplussed by the non-talking figure. Giant Blunderbore (Adam Salter) is a fantastic, huge creation which blunders around on stage, before being pelted by foam cubes supplied to a gleeful audience.

The solid performances from the energetic Ricky K (Jack) and bubbly Karen Jeffs (Fairy Courgette) are also integral to this show’s success, as are fun, well-executed song and dance numbers.

It’s Cannon and Ball you remember, though, as you come away from the Alban Arena - more than four decades together in the business and still, in my book, quite brilliant on stage.