Jack and the Beanstalk – seriously funny

Boasting a cow horse, a climbing beanstalk and a vegetarian giant that desperately needs dental work, Capitol Theatre’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk is a laugh-out-loud, magical experience.

This is the second-year playwright Jocelyn Ahlf and director Dana Anderson have collaborated on a British-style panto, and turned it into a multi-media production.

Set in a storybook world, it mixes numerous fables and nursery rhymes emphasized with western prairie accents. Along the way there are some fantastic song-and-dance numbers to keep adults happy and children in awe.

It’s a story most of us are familiar with, but with a modern twist. Jill Muffet owns the family farm and she puts pressure on Jack BeNimble and his mother Widow BeNimble for immediate payment.

Jack trades the cow for glowing garbanzo beans and climbs a beanstalk looking for adventure and money to pay off the family debt. He steals a lonely song-and-dance harp and a chicken-in-a-bucket that lays golden eggs.

Not too happy with the invasion, the heavy-footed giant chases them back to Jack’s house. Seats at the theatre are fitted with a mechanism that produces a slight vibration. At each of the giant’s thundering footfalls, the vibration mechanism shook the seats sending the audience into fits of laughter.

For me it was Moo-Moo the cow horse that stole the show. Every time she walked on stage, giggles erupted. Adept at dancing a shuffle and expressing sorrow at being sold, MooMoo was also technically capable of rearing her front legs and standing on the hind ones – quite a sight to see.

Ahlf has stuffed pop culture references throughout the production poking fun at everything from Donald Trump and Gilmore Girls to telemarketers and kale smoothies.

As Widow BeNimble, Ahlf has adopted an absolutely plummy Julie Andrews accent that emphasizes her character’s poise and elegance.

St. Albert’s Madeleine Knight strikes up instant rapport with the audience. As Jack, she adopts the persona of Jack the Giant Killer and whips a pair of stone-filled socks like ninja nunchuks.

Jason Hardwick as Miss Muffet is delightful as the baddie. Encouraging the audience to boo and hiss, he walks on stage wearing a flouncy dress and a wig of tight curls. Two-faced, smarmy and horny, Miss Muffet is the ultimate panto villain.

Jesse Gervais is a surprisingly sympathetic Giant with an unexpected twist to his character. Rebecca Merkley charms as the air-headed Harpy and Alyson Dicey as the Old Man and MooMoo shakes out her comedic chops.

As a panto, Jack and the Beanstalk is pure hilarity. It’s a casual atmosphere and the acting is honest and incredible – a nice night out for the whole family.