Jack and the Beanstalk: An East Van Panto - The Show With Two Names

Congratulations to Theatre Replacement on Jack and the Beanstalk: An East Van Panto. Children giggled, adults guffawed and by the end I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. This performance offers a fitting kick-off for the grand opening of the Cultch's newest space, The York Theatre. 

Though not lucky enough to catch the opening night festivities, I was fortunate to see the matinee the next afternoon with my young friend Tania. As one of many children in the house, Tania enjoyed participating in the traditional pantomime audience hijinks and was particularly good at loudly booing the nasty villain. However, she was curious as to why the show had two names? (I'm not sure they teach anything about colons in grade two.) 

With support from musical director, composer and one-person orchestra Veda Hille, our intrepid narrator and wanna-be real estate mogul Ray Nator (Raugi Yu) educates us in the basics of pantomime etiquette. Next up we meet Jack (Maiko Bae Yamamoto) and Jack's mom (Allan Zinyk) who are - of course - penniless. Forced by poverty to sell his dear cow Old Mudder Udder (Dawn Petten and Patti Allan), Jack receives in return three magic soybeans. You'll know the rest of the story - suffice it to say that good triumphs, evil gets it and the cow steals the whole damn show.

Playwright Charles Demers and director Amiel Gladstone have done an excellent job of pulling together a modern panto that pokes fun at nearly everyone and everything in Vancouver. You'll recognize place names, stereotypes and very likely yourself in this show. The performance has great visuals, good pacing and a giant beanstalk (obviously). And when you put that all together, it's just possible that we may have witnessed the birth of a new holiday Vancouver tradition in East Van. What's that, you ask? Why, it's pantomimes at the York!