Panto
Jack and the Beanstalk
SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
Mary Brennan
three stars
IT’S big and it’s brash – the Armadillo stage is no place for low-key minimalism and when 3D specs are handed out, you know that Jack and the Beanstalk is pitching to be spectacular. So bring on the dancers: ten hot-hoofing adults – no wee weans in this mix – who boogie on down in a variety of eye-catching costumes. And bring on the prominently named attractions: Greg McHugh as Gary Trot and The Dolls as his Aunties. Where’s Jack? He’s further down the cast list, because even if it’s meant to be his story, it mostly isn’t – Jack (a dashing Llandyll Gove) and his Princess Apricot (a bright, appealing Rachel Flynn) don’t even get to be the happy-ever-after couple who traditionally round off the walk-down at the end. Like the story itself, they’re eclipsed by the over-riding comedy that has the Dolls and McHugh more or less doing their own thing – making the production closer to a variety show than a pantomime, and not an especially child-orientated one at that.
McHugh, referencing his role in Gary:Tank Commander, is actually spot on as the lovable eejit who wants to be a hero, but the Dolls - despite looking grotesquely brassy and acting Glesca’ rude’n’racy - don’t have the salty innuendo edge of a cross-dressing dame. But then tradition isn’t the name of the game here. Moo-Moo the Coo hardly gets a look in, the Giant becomes part of the lengthy 3D sequence, his fe-fi-fum threat replaced by a huge animatronic rat that McHugh trounces...So – big and brash. Strong singing impresses, as does John McLarnon’s elegantly villainous Fleshcreep, and it all looks expensive. But sadly it’s spectacularly lacking panto charm, a dazzle of magic and real heart.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel