Empire Theatre, Eden Court, until 10 Janaury 2010

THE ANNUAL Pantomime at Eden Court lived up to all my expectations – corny jokes, lots of “he’s behind you’s!” and cheesy songs galore. This year’s fairytale was Jack and the Beanstalk, and, despite said tale at first being a distant memory for me, it all came flooding back. And who knew you could get a pink-dotted blue cow?

Jack and the Beanstalk at Eden Court

This year’s Pantomime was brought to Eden Court by Imagine Theatre, led by writer and director Iain Lauchlan (who also played Dame Trott). He said that they were “delighted” to work with such talent. It was the company’s first time working on a Panto in Eden Court, and, with the help of local children, dancers and friend Karl Woolley (Simple Simon and also assistant director) amongst others, they went all out to create a spell-binding show.

Like all good Pantomimes there was a princess, a baddie, a poor boy who got the girl, a dame and her slightly simple son for us to giggle at. Panto’s are always at their best, I think, when set out in the traditional way: we like the fact that good triumphs over evil and the most unlikely guy gets the girl; it’s a nice sway from reality. So the format may have been decidedly familiar, but that’s what’s nice about it.

Now, to the all important issue of the massive, or should I say not so massive, beanstalk – growing from a dustbin, it was rather novel but I was slightly disappointed that it wasn’t huge, looming and mechanically engineered like the one I saw in Edinburgh when I was wee; but the recession is here, as Fleshcreep (the Giant’s right hand man) reminded us.

Fortunately size was no issue when it came to The Giant, in fact the “Biggest Giant in Pantoland”! That was certainly true, and as the fog machine’s mist (possibly not needed – there was enough fog outside to hide many a giant) evaporated, the Giant appeared to lots of gasps. Sword in hand, the papier-mache-like brute staggered across stage; I’m certain many people will remember that moment for a long time.

I think perhaps I’m growing out of my Pantomime phase, but I have no doubt that by the time I’m a student I’ll be desperate to go again. But the amount of work put into the production every year is incredible, and they really did put on a good show. Wee children with flashing lights should perhaps be banned, though…

© Jo Gratton, 2009

Links

• Imagine Theatre

• Eden Court Theatre