Whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope has just the Panto for you! Jack: A Beanstalk Panto carries on the time-honoured tradition of a Holiday Pantomime in a refreshing, modern way. Written and directed by the incomparable Rebecca Northan, Jack: A Beanstalk Panto truly is fun for the whole family.

Jack: A Beanstalk Panto is a thoughtfully modernized version of the classic fairytale “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Jack (full name Jaqueline, but they go by Jack) works at her local coffee shop in Port Hope for a big, bad boss named Pearson. Just as in the fairy tale, Jack is entrusted with taking a dry cow to market, only to sell it for magic beans which grow into a mighty beanstalk stretching to the clouds. Jack climbs the beanstalk where they meet a whole host of magical and wonderful friends, and a big, bad giant. Featuring popular songs which everyone will hum along to, and laughs beyond measure, this is a fabulous retelling of the classic story.

I was thrilled that Jack is played by a female-presenting actor and that they openly discuss issues of gender identity and pronouns in the play. I think this is so essential, especially for the younger audiences, to be able to see themselves in the hero of the story. Jack struggles with more modern, and very real, issues and it made the Panto feel poignant and current.

As I mentioned previously, Jack: A Beanstalk Panto offers Naughty and Nice performances. I went to a Naughty performance on opening night and it was definitely geared to an all-adult audience. I would say that the more naughty references were thinly-veiled, but truly there was no veil at all! It was hysterically funny; there were times I could barely catch my breath from laughing so hard! The Nice performances, therefore, are specially designed for the whole family, little ones included. The fun of Pantomimes is that no matter the age of the audience, we’re encouraged to shout and boo and cheer and sing along, and I love that feeling of being included in the world of the play. I don’t want to spoil the amazing audience participation bits, but I shall advise that in Act 2, you should yell Chicken Shuffle as MANY times as they’ll let you; trust me, it’s a marvellous time.

The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope is already one of the most whimsical spaces I’ve ever been in, and the set design for Jack: A Beanstalk Panto matches that story-book essence perfectly. Anna Treusch’s designs for the show are both functional and magical, taking us up the beanstalk and back again with ease. Choreographer Hollywood Jade’s vision completes the spectacle of it all with vivacious and fun choreography throughout the performance. Chris Barillaro’s arrangements for the music make them unique to the production while being instantly recognizable, with the addition of a smart pun or two. You can tell that the whole team really came together to bring Northan’s vision to life in the most wonderful way.

The stellar cast of Jack: A Beanstalk Panto deliver incredible performances, most taking on more than one character during the course of the story and each of them getting to show off their incredible singing voices. Zoë O’Connor stars as Jack; her bright and lively stage presence make her a joy to watch. It’s easy to see how she’s able to connect with adults and kids alike. Christy Bruce plays Cynthia, the Giant’s housekeeper, and her dry humour and witty delivery make her a perfect foil for O’Connor’s optimism. It took me until intermission to figure out why I recognized Paul Constable, and as soon as I read his bio it totally clicked (if you’ve watched any Canadian TV in the past decade, he’s been on your screen, I guarantee). I was delighted by his improv prowess as Pearson and the Giant, constantly encouraging the boos and insults from the audience. Steve Ross dazzles as the magic Harp as only he can. Again, I don’t want to give away too much, but I will say that Alyssa Edwards would be proud of that wig! Completing the cast is Madison Hayes-Crook, Robbie Fenton, Clea McCafrey, and Hal Wesley Rogers who play several characters each and make the most entertaining ensemble.

Jack: A Beanstalk Panto is a true delight. With the lobby full of beautiful Christmas Trees (which you can win in their 27th Annual Festival of Lights and Trees) and the theatre full of laughter, this is the perfect way to spend time during the holidays. There are performances of both the Naughty and Nice versions on now through December 23rd. For more information and tickets, visit: https://capitoltheatre.com/single-tickets-2022/

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Cover Photo: Christy Bruce, Madison Hayes-Crook, Zoë O’Connor, Paul Constable, Steve Ross and Robbie Fenton in Jack: a Beanstalk Panto. Photo by Sam Moffatt

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