Twas a cold, dark night when la famille Beaufoix once more ventured out to the Theeaaaytah.  Dressed in our finery, with a box of Quality Street, a couple of cartons of apple juice and enough cash to bribe encourage Misses E and M to sit for a whole two hours, we take our seats in Nottingham’s gorgeous Theatre Royal and prepare to be dazzled.

We are not disappointed.

With a cast that includes the fabulous Nigel Havers as Flesh Creep (the giant’s evil henchman) and amazing ventriloquist Paul Zerdin as Jack, Nottingham’s panto kept us thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.

The sets were bright and charming, the costumes stunningly luxurious, and the Princess Apricot played by lovely actress Jenna Louise Coleman, along with the ethereal Mother Nature, kept two little girls wide eyed and longing for most of the show.

Neither Miss E or Miss M have ever seen a live ventriloquist before (or come to think of it a dead one), but I don’t think 4 year old Miss M actually realised that “Sam” was a puppet until she witnessed Zerdin throw his voice to an audience member he pulled up onto the stage…

Miss M:  ”Mummy, does that man have to have that voice forever now?”

Having experienced their first panto just a week before, E and M were like seasoned pros when the choruses of ‘oh no it isn’t/oh yes it is’ and ‘He’s behind you’ began, and they were beside themselves with glee when we were ‘lucky enough’ to be both squirted with water and showered with fluttery stuff – sighhhhh.

‘Dame Trot’, played by Andrew Ryan, was a sight to behold, and his enormous pantomime bottom will remain in Miss E and M’s memory for quite some time.  The special effects were truly fantastic, from the telescopic beanstalk which took Jack right up into the roof of the theatre, to the giant who we only glimpsed parts of, but who nevertheless caused Miss M to grasp my hand and squeeze, thumb in mouth, eyes wide.

All in all this was a wonderful show that had us laughing, singing and cheering.  If I had one criticism it would be that twice Paul Zerdin’s humour was, in my opinion, not really suitable for a family audience, but this may have been a ad-lib that evening so don’t let it put you off.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Theatre Royal Nottingham

Saturday 5 December 2009 – Sunday 17 January 2010

Tickets: £10 – £22 (plus concessions available for under 16s, over 60s, registered unwaged, students, school parties, groups and Friends of the Royal Centre)

Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Website and online booking: www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk

This post is part of the Have A Lovely Time ‘Great British Panto’ Review.  The lovely folks at the Nottingham Theatre Royal have given me and my family the opportunity to see their show and as a thank you I have made a donation to NACCPO.  If you have enjoyed this review, and have a little cash to spare, even a tiny bit, then please head over to our Just Giving page and help us to help families whose children aren’t facing the best Christmas.  Maybe you could see it as just one extra gift to buy this year??