‘Bonkers’ Jack and the Beanstalk

It’s not often you hear the words ‘bonkers’ and ‘daft’ alongside the words ‘great’ and ‘brilliant’ but that was the case at the end of Seend Fawlty Players’ production of Jack and the Beanstalk in Seend Community Centre in February. 

The group reports, “A beanstalk, caterpillars and a cow that all talked, a misbehaving baby giant, a pernickety planning officer, an ‘is he or isn’t he a leprechaun?’ enigma and a giant that was represented just by a pair of enormous legs all made this a production to remember. 

“Jack was played with great energy and comic virtuosity by Andy Nutland, with Paula Mansergh splendid as his put-upon mother. Daisy the cow, who we are supposed to believe was capable of winning  ‘Strictly’, was played by scriptwriters Tessa Doe and Anita Shea. Jackie Hamblin and Pete Wallis played two very hungry caterpillars, with Jackie doubling as the hen that layed golden eggs, which she made clear took a lot of effort, and Pete also playing the disruptive man-size baby giant. Len Murray was a magnificent dame in the role of the giant’s wife, with a hint of Dame Edna around the wig and glasses. John Jameson-Davis played a rather camp beanstalk, Anita Shea the gilded singing harp, Will Hickman and Toby Wallis were lively bean sellers and Jan Field the pedantic planning officer. Roger Brind voiced the unseen giant in sonorous Shakespearean style and also appeared to narrate part of the story in yokel mode.

“Anita Shea directed and also created the costumes. Scenery, props, make-up, posters, programmes, publicity, front of house etc were the work of Jackie Hamblin, Paula Mansergh, Colin Waldeck, Dave Field, Alan Bryer, Paul Manning, Anne Ewing, Graham Hamblin, Frank Teasdale and Tessa Doe. Rachel Lewis and her team were in charge of refreshments. 

“Fiona Johnson provided excellent piano accompaniment and Paul Seemayer provided the lighting.

“Proceeds from the show will be shared between Alzheimer’s Support Wiltshire, Seend School and Lavington School.”