Panto review: Jack and the Beanstalk @ Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

Panto review: Jack and the Beanstalk @ Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn

3:30pm Monday 14th December 2009 in Stage By Jennifer Brown

It’s panto time again and along with my youngest children and their young at heart Nanna, I was looking forward to a night of good old family panto fun.

After a slow start – which seems to be a recurring theme with pantos by Pendle Productions – Simple Simon (Callum Arnott) roused the audience, alongside his ‘brother’ Jack (panto favourite Justine Bailey).

Chris Quinten (Coronation Street’s Brian Tilsley from the 80s) was excellent as the rambling King Bumble, although references to Corrie were a little lost on the younger audience.

Anthony Batey’s portrayal of Fleshcreep was more comic than frightening – which I must say was a welcome change – last time we saw Fleshcreep in a pantomime he was far too scary.

His voice is fantastic and he was by far one of our favourite characters.

Dame Tilly Trott (Bev Moss) added just the right amount of naughtiness for the adults, while roller-skating Fairy Twinkle (Alison Crawford), and Princess Priscilla (Jennifer Walsh) added the glitz.

The children from local dance schools were excellent, and we particularly enjoyed the Chavs and Fleshcreep’s men in black!

* Jack and the Beanstalk runs until January 3. For tickets call 01254 685500.