Theatre Review: Jack And The Beanstalk – Crewe Lyceum

By [randrews]

IT MAY be one of the area's smaller theatres but the entertainment filling this year's Crewe Lyceum panto is definitely on the big side.

Starring Home And Away's Lynne McGranger as The Fairy and former Emmerdale actor Frazer Hines as Fleshcreep, it didn't take long for the battle between good and evil to begin as the people of Merrydale tried to conquer the infamous fairytale giant.

As the Lyceum isn't particularly big, children can sit practically anywhere and still get a great view of the cast and stage.

The scenery is so close you can almost jump inside, and the characters so bubbly you'll want to make them your new best friends.

But the entertainment didn't just stay on stage. Thanks to a giant TV screen and Simple Simon's innovative Si Si TV invention, the arrival of Dame Trott and Daisy The Cow came through a brilliant hidden camera scene that had the audience believe they were watching the larger-than-life lady, played by a great Chris Casserly, run through the streets of Crewe searching for her milk-producing furry friend.

As they would state, it was "udderly hilarious".

Brum star Kevin McGreevy was loveable Simple Simon and, together with his mother Dame Trott, provided most of the comic moments.

The gunge-covered meringue scene was good fun to watch as the whole of the front few rows cowered at the thought of getting splattered with the delicious dessert filling.

GMTV's Wakey Wakey presenter Kerry Newell donned the trousers in this production to play hero Jack, while Fame Academy's Carolynne Good was Princess Tamara.

But if you're after the real stars of the show then the giant in the second half and the arrival of the enormous beanstalk in the first certainly took some beating.

This was a great family panto with plenty to keep the children (and adults) entertained.

Liz Rowley