REVIEW: Jack and the Beanstalk, Poulner Players, Poulner Church Hall, Ringwood (From Daily Echo)
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REVIEW: Jack and the Beanstalk, Poulner Players, Poulner Church Hall, Ringwood
3:08pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Curtain Call By Anne Waggott
THIS pantomime script was as far away from the original wonderful Hollywood musical as it is possible to get, disappointingly so, with all the fundamental elements of the story absent. It was disconcerting to find most of the musical numbers taken from Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma!
and The Pajama Game rather than from the original rich score, or even a completely contemporary soundtrack instead, but the singing was of a fair enough quality.
Characters were farremoved from the tale’s source, but there were some good pantomime performances, mainly from June Buxton (portraying Calamity as a gaudy, Northern Dame), Steven Reynolds (an effeminate Caribbean Pirate from “the wrong pantomime”), the amusing group of Mexican Bandits and Nathan East (the menacing authoritative Geronimo); the youngsters (particularly effervescent Samantha Stevens) were enthusiastic.
Pace was reasonable and the choreography suited the characters and cast abilities, and the scenery was very good with excellent costumes.
