Stage: Tale as old as time

He's Behind You! presents
Beauty and the Beast: A Horny Love Story
by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper
director Andrew Beckett
with Matthew Baldwin, Matt Kennedy, Chris Lane, Keanu Adolphus Johnson, Laura Anna-Mead, Dani Mirels, Ben Mabberley, Owen Arkrow, Olivia-Grace Weaver
composer Jon Bradfield • choreographer Carole Todd
sets David Shields • costumes Robert Draper
sound Andrew Johnson • lighting Matt Hockley
Charing Cross Theatre, London • 21.Nov.25-11.Jan.26 ★★★★

While this lively pantomime definitely hasn't been made for the kiddies, its bouncy childishness is hugely engaging. The grown-up audience at Charing Cross Theatre may continually roar at the raucously smutty wordplay, but it's the comfy self-aware nuttiness that keeps a smile on our faces. It definitely helps to have such an eye-catching array of sets and costumes, and such an up-for-it cast as this one, led by indefatigable panto-dame legend Matthew Baldwin.

The story is set in the Scottish village of Lickmanochers, where young Bertie (Matt Kennedy) and his sister Bonnie (Laura Anna-Mead) are struggling with their queer identities, because there are so few potential partners here. Their "easily spread" mother Flora (Baldwin) runs the local shop and is also on the prowl, while the villainous Cornelius (Chris Lane) plots against everyone. His big secret is that his cursed beastly brother Charlie (Johnson) is locked up in the family's Traitors-esque castle, and soon both Flora and Bertie get stuck there as well. Flora gets on with the resident ghosts, cooking bouncy scones and a shenanigan-filled Christmas dinner, while Bertie and Charlie of course have a more romantic trajectory.

The plot is resolutely simplistic, but the snappy dialog gives the actors a lot to work with. There's a barrage of hilarious zingers, current political asides and lots of references to the Disney classic. Indeed, the fabulously irreverent pastiche songs include Be Our Slave, crooned by the castle ghosts. And the climactic scene on Cornelius' drilling platform resounds to the strains of Village People-style anthem On an Oil Rig. Romance is on the cards for everyone, as Flora falls for local Harris (Ben Mabberley) and Bonnie meets the tourist Juno (Dani Mirels) and settles down alarmingly quickly.

While Baldwin owns the stage with his razor-sharp timing, iconic costume changes and astonishingly snappy improv, the skilful surrounding cast hold their own. Kennedy is an endearing hero who is very easy to root for, creating terrific chemistry with Johnson's amusingly tetchy beast. Both are able to punch the comedy while also finding deeper resonance. Everyone has a lot of fun with the elaborate costumes, witty songs and riotous Highland Fling-inspired choreography. Most impressive is how the show manages to be both silly and sexy at the same time, with a happy ending that comes complete with an enticingly dubious moral.

For details, HE'S BEHIND YOU! >

photos by Steve Gregson • 4.Dec.25

Stage: A naughty Christmas wish

Pinocchio: No Strings Attached!
by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper
dir Andrew Beckett
with Matthew Baldwin, Jared Thompson, Dami Olukoya, Christopher Lane, Christy Bellis, Shane Barragan, Oli Dickson, Briony Rawle
Above the Stag, Vauxhall • 19.Nov.19-11.Jan.20

Olukoya and Thompson

The 11th holiday panto produced by Above the Stag is another impressive production, with witty staging, a lively script, terrific songs and a cast that's expert at milking every bit of innuendo for all it's worth. That said, the show sometimes feels like it plays it a bit safe, relying on reliable old gags instead of inventing something new. But the performers keep it fresh and often raucously entertaining. In fine tradition, the familiar storybook tale has been twisted into something hilariously queer for an adult audience that's not afraid of rather a lot of rude double entendre.

In the Italian fishing village of Placenta, puppet-maker Gepetta (Baldwin), her sidekick Cornetta (Bellis) and their cat Chianti (Rawle) are in hiding, fugitives from a crime spree in Rome. But evil fox Figaro (Lane) suspects something is up with them. One night, part-fairy Fatima (Olukoya) brings Gepetta's puppet Pinocchio (Thompson) to life, telling him not to lie. Bullied at school for being wooden, he's tempted by a funfair on the edge of town, and also by new footballer Joe (Dickson), bought for the local team by Figaro. When Pinocchio runs away with Joe, Gepetta and Cornetta set off to find him, helped by lonely fisherman Pedro (Barragan), who has a thing for Gepetta.

As events progress, the soap-style romantic storylines are enjoyably tangled, boosted by the gender-bent mayhem. Characters are openly lusting after each other, resisting and then falling for each other and swearing like, well, fishermen. When Pinocchio lies, it's not his nose that grows. The actors dive in with gusto, playfully delivering the smuttiest dialog while deploying references to politics, current events and of course the Disney animated classic (including a sharp Jiminy Cricket gag). And each character gets a chance to break out in song and dance, numbers that are snappy and often laugh-out-loud hilarious.

Lane as Figaro the fox

With spotless timing, Baldwin is playing his seventh Above the Stag pantomime dame. He's gifted at engaging with audience members and improvising jokes that are just as funny as the scripted ones. He also generates some surprising pathos even in some of the more ridiculous moments, creating vivid connections with Bellis' sparky Cornetta and Barragan's adorable Pedro. Dickson is also memorable as the puppet come to life, putting in a remarkably physical performance that emphasises his dance skills. Lane has a ball as the predatory Figaro, never shying away from his smirking, gleefully leery nastiness. And Rawle is a gifted scene-stealer, amusingly riffing on quirky cat behaviour even when lurking in the background.

Above the Stag's original musicals are of such high quality that they'd play well on a West End stage. They fill this small venue perfectly, with inventive production design that sets off the various scenes. Four main sets are vividly imagined, plus a nicely deployed landscape-painted curtain. The sound is, as usual, a bit tricky, with quite a few punchlines inaudible in the back rows (there are only eight). But the energy is unmissable, and there's never a dull moment as these engaging characters take on this big Christmas-themed adventure with plenty of wickedly grown-up sass.

For more info: www.abovethestag.org.uk