“Crass, Chaotic and utterly Hilarious”
Leaving Jack Off The Beanstalk, you feel almost in shock. It’s a bit of a traumatic experience in all honesty, which strangely doesn’t detract from the total hilarity of the show. I would absolutely return in a heartbeat for this adult panto, a crass and wonderful piece of theatre.
This piece knows exactly what it has set out to do. It is ridiculous from the opening number (I want to touch boobs, set the the music of Footloose) to the curtain call, and deadly funny at all points. It fully embraces that it is juvenile and superbly crass which works incredibly well. The story, well written by Matty Hurst, plays out exactly how you’d expect, and enjoys playing with the tropes of panto throughout. There are moments where you just want to look away or close your ears, but you cannot help but laugh. It is a well crafted story that is just for the adults.
The acting is brilliant. The piece is led by Jack Twat, played by Danny Scott, who flirts with the audience and loves innuendo. They are clearly having so much fun on the stage, struggling to hold it together when one of the others adlibs. With him is Thick Twat, later renamed Rubber Johnny, played by Nick Beat. They are the deadpan sidekick to the other players, and come out with some wild and wicked jokes. Clearly a talented comic, they deliver jokes that range from weird to just wrong with impeccable belief, and never break from their character. The cast is rounded out by Dame Iona Twatt, played by Campbell Glazier, who commands the stage from the moment they enter it. They are over-the-top and crude and act fabulously. It is a wonderfully talented cast who are constantly trying to outdo the others. It makes it enjoyable to watch as we find out who will win in the war of wit playing out in front of us.
Fair warning, the audience participation is constant and you may be expected to go onto the stage. You will get wet in the front row, and you may wind up marrying the Dame. It is all part of the fun, which the audience gets so invested in that no one really minded. Be prepared for the crassness of the piece as well, it is unapologetic. There are points where the script verges maybe too far across the line. It could be pulled back ever so slightly, without losing the magic of the rude and wild show.
Pitch perfect use of the pantomime genre, this is a fun show to see, fitting perfectly into the fringe. It isn’t going to be for everyone, and I reckon it is well aware of that. For me, it was a mad hour that was so funny I could barely breathe.
Show Listing: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/jack-off-the-beanstalk
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
Venue: Just The Sub-Atomic Room at Just The Tonic Nucleus
Dates: 6th – 30th August (Not 18th)
Time: 17.50
Ticket prices: £15.00
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
Suitable for 18+ (Restriction)