Jack and the Beanstalk

Watch out! He’s behind you! No he’s not! Oh yes, he is! Edinburgh’s ‘sexiest man’ (all the way from darkest Leith) is back as ‘Fleshcreep’ in this year’s panto-extravaganza Jack and the Beanstalk. Together with ‘Dame Trot’ and ‘Hector’, this riotous trio will guarantee you an evening filled with spectacular, occasionally even bawdy, entertainment suitable for adults and children alike!

Yes, it’s that time of year again when Christmas pantos are sweeping the land and it’s no different here in bonnie Edinburgh! Jack and the Beanstalk – the Giant Pantomime Spectacular – just made a welcome return to the King’s Theatre and it’s bigger and more ambitious than ever before! Meet the sinister Fleshcreep (Grant Stott) as he terrorizes the good citizens of Auld Reekie, in particular Dame Trot (Allan Stewart) and hubby Hector (Andy Gray) for being, eh, somewhat behind with their rent. If they don’t pay up soon then not only will they be forced to sell their lifestock and beloved moo Daisy… they also run danger of being fed to the Giant Bawface, a truly terrible fate that threatens pretty Princess Apricot (Rachel Flynn)! Fear not, for courageous Jack Trot (Greg Barrowman) comes to the rescue and with the help of the Spirit of the Castle (Lisa Lynch) and a bag full of magical beans he may just about save the day, his family, and win the hand of the Princess! Or will he?

Of course, nothing is as straightforward as it sounds and (did I mention beans?) obstacles are looming everywhere. It’s not just the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk that’s being performed here. Really, what would be a panto without the jokes and countless lampooning? Pretty much everything and everyone from Nicola Sturgeon vs. the wee Krankie, from Trump to boob implants (Dame Trot just got herself a pair of new ‘aqua boobs’) gets the panto treatment here. Even that daft Haribo sweets TV ad, in which adults talk like children, gets a well deserved send up! And then there’s the music and the songs, and the simply brilliant pyrotechnics, the puppets, the costumes, the set designs, the growing beanstalk, the flying helicopter (yes!) and a never-ending supply of laughs! I could go on…
Stewart, Stott and Gray are in top form and very clearly enjoy every second on stage, delivering the gags seamlessly and with great gusto. Suffice to say all the other performances are a delight to watch as well!
Revealing anymore would be spilling the beans and so I’ll just say “shoosh” but really, missing this show would border on idiocy so book now and take family and friends along for a riotous night out!

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK runs at the King’s Theatre until Jan 15th 2017