Fee fi fo fum, panto’s back in Birmingham! 
So begins this year’s offering of Jack And The Beanstalk at Birmingham Hippodrome - and having checked out last night’s performance, it’s clear that panto is not only back in Brum, it’s back with a vengeance! 

A stellar cast telling the tale of poor Jack, tricked into swapping the family cow for a handful of magic beans while on a mission to destroy the evil giant, leads to a five-star evening of fun and frivolity, with dance, song, laughs and visuals delighting children and adults alike. 

The cast’s enthusiasm and joy are infectious. Local treasure Alison Hammond is clearly thrilled to be entertaining her home crowd, together with Birmingham panto royalty in the form of Matt Slack as Jake Trot and Doreen Tipton as Doreen the Cow.

Much is made of the fact that this is Matt’s 10th year as a star of the Hippodrome panto, and with good reason. He both steals the show and holds it together, with a first-half medley of songs full of innuendo that makes not only the audience but also his co-star laugh, and a second-half alphabet of impressions that can’t fail to make even the most Scrooge-like of theatre-goers raise a smile. His interactions with a hapless ‘victim’ in the front row and younger members of the audience onstage at the end of the show prove his worth as an entertainer for all ages.

Alexanda O’Reilly is a wonderfully youthful and enthusiastic Jack, and Billie-Kay a perfect Princess Jill, two young sweethearts separated for a while by evil and yet destined to live happily ever after. 

Andrew Ryan (Dame Trot, mother to Jake and Jack) is the epitome of a panto dame, with costumes which are both spectacular and outrageous, and corny jokes to match! 

Samantha Womack is the quintessential panto villain, on a mission to destroy the happiness of the poor simple village folk, but whose evil intentions are, of course, thwarted by the forces of good.

Visual highlights of this year’s show include a beanstalk climbing to the roof of the theatre from the middle of the stalls and the menacing figure of the giant looming over the first few rows. Numerous costume changes, pyrotechnics and a spectacular set create a visual marvel, and yet the simpler elements of the show are equally impressive; a routine of pure slapstick involving a frying pan, a rolling pin and a duster - which seems poised to descend into disaster at any second - leaves the audience on the edge of their seats and is one of many hilarious moments. 

There are, of course, contemporary references woven into this traditional tale, with a Just Eat delivery of a burger to the giant and comic references to Hammond’s roles on This Morning and Bake Off...

All in all, then, it’s fair to say that the Hippodrome is yet again presenting a panto masterpiece - one that’s sure to entertain and delight in equal measure. Be sure to bag yourself a seat to enjoy this real giant of a festive treat! 

5 stars

Reviewed by Rachel Smith at Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 19 December.
Jack And The Beanstalk runs at the venue until Sunday 28 January