Dundee Rep's new production of Jack and the Beanstalk, billed as a 'moooosical', has been praised for its pizzazz but criticised for losing the heart of the original fairy tale. The show, written by Jonathan O'Neill and Isaac Savage, shifts the focus from Jack to Caroline the highland cow, played by Suzie McAdam.
In this version, Caroline is adopted by Jack's family and becomes the sole supplier of milk for their ice-cream brand. When the business fails, she is sold to a petting zoo, where she plots her escape with a hen, a llama and a pig. The story follows her return home to confront Jack and his troublesome beanstalk.
Stephen Whitson's production features a 10-strong cast and the voice of Brian Cox as the giant. While the show is lively and well-performed, some critics argue that the shift in emphasis undermines the fable's archetypal themes of wonder, childhood fear, and the struggle between good and evil.
The songs, ranging from Broadway to vaudeville to rap, are described as superficially lively but emotionally detached. McAdam's power ballad 'Udderly Alone' is a standout moment, but the production relies heavily on expository dialogue to convey its lessons, rather than showing them through action.
