The cast, ensemble and dance members featured in the pantomime on opening night Tuesday (23 August).

Jamey Gordon

Enthralling family entertainment with a barrel of laughs, delightful music and engaging scenes, which get audiences to their feet for some participatory fun is what the new production staged at The Playhouse Theatre has to offer.

The musical comedy Jack and the Beanstalk brings pantomime-theatre magic back to life at the venue off Lourensford Road in Somerset West since opening night on Tuesday (23 August) until Saturday (27 August). The captivating production based on the popular English fairy tale features a stellar cast made up of talented performing arts students of Pneumatix (PNXGlobal).  

Written by the renowned Janice Honeyman and directed by the acclaimed Francois Toerien, locals journey alongside Jack the Joller (Jethro Williams) on his quest to save the duly unruly Raspberry Rose (Caylin Jacobs) from the claws of Giant Grumbleguts up in Cloudland.

The adventure starts with the introduction of the fairy who, apart from her apparent inability to fly due to a fear of heights, eventually aids Jack’s valiant rescue efforts with a wave of her magic wand. With the incredible combination of song-and-dance audiences are transported to Doedoela Dorp, where they meet Jack’s unforgettable mother, Dame Mimi Mosbolletjie Melba (Ross Marshall), and his sisters, Simpel Santie (Wilidia Crouse), Sagkop Suzy (Carla Horn) and Slow Sally (Kayla du Preez), Aunty Merle (Adrian Nathan), the chief crime crusher and community caretaker, and her crime fighting counterpart, Dikdom Dirky (Eduan van Niekerk), Daisy the Cow (Abigail van Niekerk) and Henrietta Hen (Danielle Goosen), who gets the audience dancing in hopes of getting her to lay a golden egg.

But trouble soon dawns when Doedoela Dorpenaars has to contend with the Giant’s horrible henchman, Hendrik Hideoso (Sareez Basson). The not-so-successful evil sidekick with aspirations of emulating Vladimir Putin kidnaps Raspberry Rose to be indulged by the Giant as a birthday treat.

“Come and watch as Jack, a poor South African boytjie, overcomes the Giant with faith and support of his family and friends,” implores Giovanni Africa, Pneumatix (PNX Global) Chief Executive Officer. “It’s not how he starts, it’s where he finishes. And, he finishes on top.”

Africa urges locals to get their tickets to the show, which offers the best medicine during these trying times, laughter.

“With everything people are facing daily we bring the show for people to enjoy,” he said. “The rendition of Jack and the Beanstalk will have both young and old giggling in their seats.”

According to Africa the show, which features g third year students in lead roles, serves as their annual talent showcase.

“We want families to come and have fun, but also make them aware of PNXGlobal.com, which is located in the Helderberg and offers training in the performing arts as well as a gap-year programme,” says Africa.

  • Tickets at R75 are available from Quicket and can be booked for shows scheduled at 19:30 tonight, Friday and Saturday as well as 15:00 on the latter date.
Director Francois Toerien with Giovanni Africa, Pn

Director Francois Toerien with Giovanni Africa, Pneumatix (PNX Global) Chief Executive Officer.

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