A pallid enough panto, premiered too early for its own good and instantly forgettable. But don't let my young kids hear me say that: Jack and the Beanstalk's opening night on Thursday delivered enough of what they want to earn their declarations of love.
What do they want? A nice fairy, some love interest, shimmering costumes, physical comedy, a chance to shout, and dance moves courtesy of Britney, Ricky, Steps etc. And the Gaiety gets full marks. What do I want? A script with wit, a decent song or two, competently staged action sequences and something better than a tired rent-a-set to gaze at during the few thinner moments.
This panto is supposed to be the June Rodgers vehicle but she's scarcely along for the ride. Her slumbers are finally interrupted in Act 2, when she gives us a reasonably funny number as a certain well-connected gossip columnist on a divan - virtually the first time any of the topical references comes within an ass's roar of the mark. But if anyone is carrying this show, it's Brenda Brooks as "the cool fairy" who repeatedly appears in something like a spinning CDROM of light.
And the Macnas giant? Yeah, him too. Otherwise, Jack and the Beanstalk is a succession of comic and theatrical "ideas" that aren't sustained long enough or with sufficient conviction to merit the name.
Runs until February 6th. To book phone 01-6771717