Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Ray Quinn, Lindzi Germain, Claire Simmo, Lewis Pryor, Michael Chapman, Mia Molloy.

The Pantomime is an institution, one of first experiences for many to whom the theatre is a haven to be preserved, of silliness and beauty, of hearing that loud series of giggles and laughter from younger audiences before they become self-conscious and trapped within the confines of fitting behaviour. It is when you see this in action during the Pantomime that it reminds you of what brought you into this fascinating and beguiling world in the first place, magic, the wonderful world of the delightful thrill, where anything is possible and the overall enchantment that the young mind grasps onto with relish.

It is a reason perhaps why the Pantomime has stretched its legs out beyond Christmas and why it has done so well in bringing more families into the theatre, a persuasive argument to which Michael Chapman, writer and one of the stars of this Easter’s giant spectacular, Jack and the Beanstalk, at the Epstein Theatre, holds dear as the story unfolds, as the restoration in the eyes of the young and the memory of those just slightly older, become caught up in the glitz and the charm offered on such occasions.

The point of the Pantomime, other than bringing the young into the world of the theatre, is to have fun, and it is impossible to not like, to not enjoy, one of LHK Productions’ at the Epstein, a local pantomime filled with plenty of gags, of great songs and dance routines, choreographed by Holli Jo Bradley and the mood framed superbly by the entire cast.

All you can ever ask for, no matter your age or experience with theatre, is to be entertained, it is not a giant request, just a simple one, to see the smile appear on the unsuspecting and bask in that glow, to sit and watch the good and the great become more than just the serious actor or celebrity, it is see them soar and as ever in the heart of Michael Chapman’s script, there is always that moment in which the entire audience is at one with the antics and larks on stage.

A wonderfully envisaged Easter panto, fun for all, a great place to spend with the family; it is the s’talk of the town!

Ian D. Hall