REVIEW: Cinderella And The Beanstalk, Theatre 503 ✭✭✭✭✭

Cinderella And The Beanstalk. Photo: Jack Sain Cinderella and the Beanstalk Theatre503 29th November 2015

5 stars

Pantomimes have the potential to be uniquely excruciating. Children are merciless critics, and decades of expectation weigh heavily on poor productions. Such is the genre’s status in British popular culture that it is very difficult for any show to achieve mass appeal – it must be original enough to set itself apart from hundreds of other pantomimes, yet inclusive enough to appeal to several generations of families. What makes Sleeping Trees’ Cinderella and the Beanstalk so wonderful is that it doesn’t centre on celebrity performers, topical jokes or endless double entendres. Rather we are treated to three highly talented comic actors both subverting and celebrating the genre, with uproariously funny results. Cinderella and the Beanstalk combines the narratives of two of our most enduring pantomimes, whilst cramming onto the stage “as many fairytale characters as could Google”. Jovial and tuxedoed, said writers (James Dunnell-Smith, Joshua George Smith and John Woodburn) open proceedings, explaining that their piece will showcase the talents of dozens of actors. Trouble is, the only person they remembered to hire is Mark the musician (Mark Newnham), leaving them with one option – to play every character themselves and hope it somehow works out. This set the tone for the gloriously absurd performance that followed.

The three actors are quite magnificent, for not only do they deliver their myriad roles with great wit and energy, but they are extraordinarily good company. Whilst the central conceit does not dominate the narrative, it contextualises the artfully amateurish nature of the production. We were treated to numerous panicked arguments over who will play particular roles, and the inevitably chaotic scenes that follow are not only hysterical in themselves, but present the performers in a very endearing light. Moments such as Woodburn’s single-handed attempts to portray a conversation between Prince Charming and both Ugly Stepsisters, and the simultaneous release of the occupants of Rumplestiltskin’s pantomime prison, are enhanced by the actors’ air of utter bewilderment. Coupled with their dextrous dancing – the opening scene of the Prince’s court discussing the upcoming ball sets a very high standard – the performance is gifted a delightfully erratic physicality that will appeal to young and old alike.

Cinderella And The Beanstalk. Photo: Jack Sain

Though the expertly delivered slapstick set us all giggling – from Smith’s inability to control his Rumplestiltskin prop to the absurdly underwhelming “evil” forest (“Oh no, a falling man!”) – the loudest laughter came from a number of off-hand (and genuinely surprising) comic moments. The look of disappointment on Woodburn’s face when his Prince realised he’d finished his ice lolly, Dunnell-Smith’s cameo as Tinkerbell (a winged Barbie on a stick, boasting a deep cockney accent) and Smith’s inane song about teamwork (“simple, but impossibly good”) are the types of scene that will have you laughing long after the show. Whether we are aiding the birth of a baby cow, doing a jaunty Christmas dance, or acting out pivotal scenes from ‘Home Alone’, their irrepressible silliness ensures that we are all in on the joke.

As with any great farce, the piece is impeccably choreographed, and props are used to highly entertaining effect – the horizontal beanstalk and Dunnell-Smith’s employment of an enormous duvet will live long in the imagination. The jolly pastel coloured set is also a valuable comic asset, both as a surreal dreamscape and as an arena for the performers to leap around. The stage left doors are used to excellent effect, for an actor may burst, tumble or crawl through one and emerge through the other as a separate character, to the young audience’s particular delight. Yet for setting the scenes, the biggest mention must go to Mark Newnham’s demure musician. Not only did he demonstrate exceptional ability on a number of instruments, but his perpetual expression of quiet terror was almost impossibly funny. This lent itself beautifully to the ‘twist’ ending, when circumstances force him to take to the stage and bring the pantomime to a happily ludicrous conclusion.

Cinderella and the Beanstalk is a breathtakingly witty production, packed with jokes that the whole family will enjoy. James Dunnell-Smith, Joshua George Smith and John Woodburn are sublime comic talents, delivering exceptional performances that are enhanced by the choreography and Mark Newnham’s delightful musical accompaniments. Take your loved ones to see it, and I guarantee that you will have a wonderful time together. Cinderella And The Branstalk runs at Theatre 503 until 2 January 2016