Review: Jack and the Beanstalk at Crewe Lyceum

Dec 19 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK/Lyceum Theatre, Crewe, until January 3

REVIEW/by Michael Green

THERE is nothing like a dame and the 2008 panto at the Lyceum in Crewe would be much less of a show without the one it is blessed with.

Soap stars Lynne McGranger and Frazer Hines may dominate the poster for Jack and the Beanstalk but it is Chris Casserly’s brilliantly judged dame which elevates this above the run of the mill panto.

Avoiding the high pitched tones which can prove the downfall of many a festive cross dresser, Casserly makes Dame Trott as manly as they come with a gravelly voice that is tailor made for making the most of the double entendres and one-line put downs.

The Lyceum can always be relied upon to provide panto at its most traditional and while adults may have appreciated an occasional burst of more sophisticated humour aimed at them, there is no faulting this show’s exuberance and sense of fun.

Home and Away’s McGranger is used surprisingly briefly overall but Hines relishes the chance to ham it up with a rare villainous turn as Fleshcreep and uses his vast experience to throw in a couple of decent ad-libs.

More youthful glamour is provided by Fame Academy’s Carolynne Good as Alice and children’s presenter Kerry Newell as Jack, both of whom prove to have stunning voices during the musical numbers.

And full credit to this modestly budgeted show for coming up with such an impressive giant!