JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
4 Moncrieff St., Mt. Victoria, Wellington
04/04/2015 - 18/04/2015
Production Details
A Giant adventure of Hope, Courage and Dreams come true
Jack and his mum are facing hard times. When Jack sells Old Moo, the family cow for a handful of beans, his mum is less than impressed. After a night of feeling very sorry for himself, Jack wakes up to a giant beanstalk in place of the beans and is suddenly faced with a choice: does he stay home and continue to mope, or does he reach for the stars and pursue the adventure of a lifetime?
With our usual Kiwi twist on traditional fairy stories, songs and audience participation (as well as a few jokes for the adults) Jack and the Beanstalk is sure to delight!
Fe, fi, fo, fum…
Join Jack and Moo and have some fun!
AWESOME ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL THE FAMILY!
4 Moncrieff St., Mt. Victoria
4th – 18th April
Performance Times: Monday – Friday 11am and 2pm, Saturdays at 11am
(No show Easter Monday and please note new afternoon session time)
Tickets $10, Groups of 10+ $9.00 each, Children under 2 Free
$7 Special Opening Preview, Saturday 4th April
Bookings: phone 04 385 0292 or go to www.kidzstufftheatre.co.nz
Theatre , Children’s ,
Fresh elements and interesting depth
Review by John Smythe 04th Apr 2015
Rob Ormsby’s take on Jack and the Beanstalk has some fresh elements and interesting depth, not least the back-story of Jack’s long-absent international merchant father, and the naming of the magic beans: Hope, Courage and Dreams Come True.
George Fenn as Jack bonds quickly with the kids on the mat down the front as he blows bubbles which also have meaning as a metaphor for dreams. His boyish innocence – some would call it foolishness – wins over the adults too.
As his Mother, Vanessa Kumar hits the ideal balance between despairing and ever-loving solo mum. Kumar’s stint as Mighty Mite, stalk protector, is a tour-de-security force.
Elle Wooton relishes the role of Old Moo the cow, who comes off as the most intelligent character in the play. Her Luckie the Hen is splendidly pitched and moved, and totally owned, therefore easy to believe in.
Bringing well-wrought contrast to three characters – the smooth Salesman who does the cow-for-beans deal; Harpie, prisoner (with Luckie) of the unseen but demanding Giant; and the intrepid Father returned – is Drew Brown.
The weakest element is the songs and singing, saved where possible by the truer voices of Kumar and Wooton. That aside Calvin Petersen’s directing ensures that plot points are well placed, the gags are well timed and the rhythm, pacing and belief the actors bring to their story maintains the attention of the kids a treat.
As with all KidzStuff shows, there is little doubt their target audience will be inspired to play-act stories themselves for the rest of the holidays.
Note: This script was first produced by KidzStuff eight years ago: at The Red Brick Hall in 2007 – see review.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
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