THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE FOR THE WINTER BLUES

By Trisha Cusack ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

You may be mistaken in thinking that Panto season ended back in December. However, at Brick Lane Music Hall, the fun is only just beginning with this year’s adult panto, ‘Jack and His Giant Stalk’. With a fabulous cast, extremely funny and well-timed dialogue, and excellent musical choices, it is the perfect tonic for a dreary London winter.

We began our evening with a tasty three-course meal, akin to a wedding reception menu. Given it was a full house, the team did a great job of looking after guests and everyone’s plates were gobbled up easily. Enhancing the meal was the stunning venue – a converted Victorian church, still kitted out with lovely Christmas decorations that provided a jolly ambience.

After some nice chit chat with my table mates, it was time for the show. We are introduced to our colourful cast by the Spirit of the Beans, played by Jack Pallister, who also did the lyrics for the show. We have our hero Jack Trott (Josh Benson), a cheeky chappy, ‘Jack the Lad’-type lead, obsessed with his pet cow Daisy. His mother, Fanny Trott (Andrew Robley), is our fabulous Pantomime Dame. Completing the Trott family is the naughty Willy, played by stage veteran and founder of the Brick Lane Music Hall, Vincent Hayes MBE. Joining the Trotts in the village of Longbottom is Jill (Samantha McNeil), Jack’s neglected bestie.

A panto is also not complete without its villains. Poison Ivy (Charlotte Fage) is elegantly villainous relishing in the audience’s boos. Hayley-Jo Whitney plays Ophelia Longbottom, the Giant’s fed up wife, and Ivy’s less elegant foil. Having schemed to fun their all-inclusive holiday by jacking up the villagers’ rent, they strike the perfect balance of panto villainy, with a bit of heart.

Faced with the possibility of eviction, our heroes must find a way to raise the funds. To help them, the Spirit turns Daisy into a human, all singing, all dancing “Cow-eoke” star, embodied by Lucy Reed. This, of course, is only one of the many plots happening in this fast paced extravaganza. From a variety show to a Traitor-eous reveal, the whole show is excellently written with jokes coming out the wazoo. It must be acknowledged also that while adult panto can evoke certain preconceptions, writer and director Lucy Hayes succeeds in the show being rude without being crass. Even the scene with Jack’s titular “giant stalk” isn’t offensive, just comical.

The musical numbers are extremely well selected. The Abba medley was a particular standout with its clever lyric swaps and fun costumes. Again, props to the cast for their strong vocals in addition to comedic acting skills.

I cannot overstate how both fun and funny the show was. The cast gives it their all, fully embracing the characters and the chaos that comes with panto. At times, it was hard to tell what was scripted and what was simply hilarious improv, particularly from Vincent Hayes. The breaking of the fourth wall added to the humour, acknowledging when things didn’t go as expected, such as when Benson’s mic stopped working for a moment in the second act. That is the joy of live theatre.

Despite working with a small stage, the set doesn’t feel cramped. The use of different backdrops and simple props allows the chaos of the cast and plot maintain centre stage. We must take a moment to appreciate Fanny Trott’s costumes as well. The multiple costume changes stole many scenes, with each costume being more ridiculous than the last. The Claudia Winkleman tribute truly was a stroke of genius by Frank Kershaw.

‘Jack and His Giant Stalk’ is a fun-filled evening from start to finish. If you’re looking for a night out with friends or a date that will guarantee to have you in stitches laughing, then look no further.

Jack and His Giant Stalk is running at Brick Lane Music Hall until Sunday 7 March.

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Photo Credit:  Lucy Hayes Photography