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(Posted
19/12/03)
'Jack
and the Beanstalk' panto a treat for all ages
By
Fred Sherwin
Orleans Online
For
the past nine years the East End Theatre company has brought traditional British
pantomime to audiences in Orléans starting with "Aladdin " in
2002. Since then, the annual panto production has become a holiday tradition.
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 Dame Trot says goodbye to the family cow Daisy before Jack Trot brings it to the
market. Fred Sherwin/Photo |
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This
year the East End Theatre company is tackling an old favourite "Jack and
the Beanstalk". Part comedy and part musical, the production is 100 per cent
entertaining.
Pantomime
dates back to Victorian England where it was a popular diversion from the drudgery
of daily life. Often described as the original variety show, true pantomime is
a mix of comedy, song, audience participation, slapstick humour, puns and, of
course, a villain.
"Jack
and the Beanstalk" measures up on all fronts and even includes a pantomime cow
named Daisy, played by youngsters Sarah Conway and Sophie Melanson-Hayes, which
very nearly steals the show.
The
success or failure of pantomime depends to a great extent on the audience's willingness
to participate and interact with the characters.
The
tone was set early on during Friday night's opening performance with the appearance
of the giant's henchman Fleshcreep, played despicable by David McNorgan. As soon
as McNorgan crept onto the stage, completely dressed in black, the boos started
raining down from the Shenkman Arts Centre audience.
The
boos soon turned to cheers with the appearance of the Vegetable Fairy played by
Lili Miller. Yes, I said "Vegetable Fairy". The winged, vegetable clad
sprite is Jack's "Fairy Godmother" of sorts.
The
all ages production includes a number of musical numbers starting with Peggy Lee's
"It's a Good Day" sung by the villagers. Other songs include "High
Hopes", "You Are So Beautiful", "Money Makes The World Go
'Round" and "It's A Hard Knock Life" from the musical "Annie".
Two of
my favourites were "Anything You Can Do (I can do better)", sung as a duet by
Fleshcreep and the Vegetable Fairy; and a hilarious version of "Shall We Dance"
from the "King And I", sung by King Satupon, played by Gabe Leury, and
Jack's mother Dame Trot, played by Jim Tanner.
Having a male play the female lead and vice versa is a pantomime tradition that
is as old as the genre itself and one that is carried on by Tanner and Sherry
Legge who plays the lead Jack Trot.
Legge
is a panto veteran, having played the male lead in a number of East End Theatre
productions in the past including last year's production of "Aladdin"
and the 2004 production of "Cinderella".
Legge
has one of the strongest voices in theatre and she delivers another solid performance
as Jack.
Of special note is the performance of 12-year-old Kirsten Mainwood who plays Princess
Melanie. After spending the last five panto productions as a member of the chorus,
Mainwood steps into the spotlight with her solo performance of "Smile".
Without
a doubt the funniest moment in the play is when Dame Trot, King Satupon, Silly
Billy, Clarence Clanger and Sergeant Spic and Corporal Span perform a hilarious
version of "If I Were Not Upon This Stage".
Besides
the actors mentioned, "Jack and the Beanstalk" also features the talents of Michael
Kavcic as Jack's brother Silly Billy; Carly Leury and Cheryl Bateman as Sergeant
Spic and Corporal Span; Eric Sauve as the town crier Clarence Clanger; Joshua
Clathey as the ghost and Gilles Bellefeuille as the Giant Blunderbore.
The
East End Theatre production of "Jack and the Beanstalk" is a wonderful escape
from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. It is wildly entertaining and
fun for the entire family.
Directed
by Diane Barnett, "Jack and the Beanstalk" continues at the Shenkman Arts Centre
tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for
children.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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THE OTTAWA SCHOOL OF THEATRE presents an all ages production of Treasure Island in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Showtimes Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets $20 for adults. Students and youth 25 and under $10. To purchase visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents Michael Ben-Shalom live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents The Underground live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
CLASSIC PIANO RECITAL – Orléans pianist Emily Hou will be performing works by Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Liszt at Kanata United Church as part os the Beaverbrook Community Concert Series. The recital will start promptly at 3 p.m. Kanata United Church is located at 33 Leacock Dr. in Kanata. For more information visit 
THE ORLÉANS BREWING CO. Trivia Night from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call (613) 834-9005 to reserve your spot. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd. near the Innes Road McDonalds.
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