Sunday, 20 January 2013

Jack and the Beanstalk, Canolfan Dewi Sant, Eryrys, 19 January 2013

If the decision last summer by a group of pub goers in Llanarmon-yn-Ial to stage a community panto early in 2013 needed validation, then the clamour for tickets when the performances were announced such that a fourth show had to be added was surely reassurance enough.

Four sold out shows of Jack and the Beanstalk at St David's Village Hall in Eryrys were the result.  Co-written by Denise Deegan, Jenny Parks and Bob English, this classic tale was revisited with a distinctly rural feel, with joke after joke about matters agricultural.

As with any panto, a good villain is needed and the duties were shared between the evil landlord Gareth Jones and the ubiquitous Chris Lees who, as the Health & Safety Man, frequently appeared to quote the Government or EU regulations that cast members were breaching, from transporting of livestock to growing of beanstalks. Suitably knowing groans from the audience were the result.

Highlights from a spirited performance were Wendy Holifield as Jack's sister Jessie, Richard Martindale as Jack's mother Dame Trott and the Ugly Cousins Erma and Elsie, played by Oliver Beardwood and Richie Birch. For the audience who witnessed the latters' food preparation sketch, Saturday Kitchen will never be the same again.

Ruth Evans, as the vigorously thigh slapping Jack, and Ali Rennison as Jack's girlfriend also deserve a mention, as does Stephen Loughlin as the Giant's mum.

Such was the popularity of the show with cast, production team and audience members that 2014's production is already being planned.

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