Sonia Jalaly's adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyric Hammersmith reimagines the classic tale as a critique of academy schools, set in a Hammersmith school run by the meat-loving monster Fleshcreep, played by John Partridge in a salami-printed suit. The traditional giant is replaced by a colossal computer system hidden in the sky, designed to wipe children's brains of imagination.
Directed by Nicholai La Barrie, the production fizzes with cheerful sparkle, featuring a fiery love story between Momma Trott and the Fairy Godfather, played by the commanding Jade Hackett. Hackett's performance combines wizardry with wisdom, delivering one of the most impressive turns seen on a panto stage. The pop hits come thick and fast, with choreography by Kayla Lomas-Kirton turning the stage into a disco ball frenzy.
Joey James plays Jack as a nervous character who hides behind a sock puppet, while Sienna Widd's Jill is brilliantly sassy and refuses to be intimidated by Fleshcreep's threats. Sam Harrison's dame lacks the flair of predecessors, but Partridge's sinister portrayal makes the audience genuinely fear him. The production lacks the political jokes of previous Lyric pantos, apart from a single reference to the Coldplay CCTV cheating saga, and does not feel particularly topical.
