When we talk about "traditional values", it's not generally cross-dressing we have in mind. But in the strange and jolly world of panto, men in frocks seem to be the true mark of adherence to tradition.
St Anthony's Theatre on Merchant's Quay is the Dublin home of "real panto" in exile. While Twink and June Rodgers run the show elsewhere, venerable Val Fitzpatrick proves it takes a real man to be a real Dame. In these intimate surroundings, where the whole crowd is well within hissing distance, he's first among equals in a really lovely ensemble, putting on a top-notch entertainment.
Other welcome traditional ingredients of Jack and the Beanstalk include: singers who actually sing on stage; a crackling five-laughs-a-minute script; virtually non-stop audience participation; and a judicious mix of fearsome terror and physical comedy (i.e. a hint of the former followed by lashings of the latter).
It may lack glamour, but young Aife Lowry has a voice that will fill far larger spaces in years to come, and Alan Hughes (he's on the telly!) is a deliciously mincing Sammy Sausages. Only the casting of ubiquitous astrologer Fergus Gibson as the Wizard fails to take flight - for a guy who's supposed to be psychic, he doesn't seem to be on the same wavelength as his fellow actors.
Eamonn Glancy directs Karl Broderick's script with energy and economy, from the little kids in the cast up to 80-something Tony Kenny. Musical director Kevin Walsh contributes powerfully and choreographer Tracey Martin makes the most of the small space, right down to some Fosse-esque touches on Money Makes the World Go Around.
Yeah, just call me a traditionalist.
