Tipperary Pantomime Society’s 42nd production, Jack and the Beanstalk, played to full houses at the Tipperary Excel and once again confirmed the Society’s special place in the cultural life of the town. Pantomime Society’s 42nd production, Jack and the Beanstalk, played to full houses at the Tipperary Excel and once again confirmed the Society’s special place in the cultural life of the town. Based on an original script by the late Paddy Ryan, who also designed the imaginative settings and scenery, the production was both a joyful theatrical experience and a fitting tribute to a man whose creative legacy continues to shape local drama. I was in a previous production of Jack and the Beanstalk, playing the role of Billy Muffet, while Aidan Tobin played the role of Jack and the late Mary Swords played our mother, the widow Muffet. I was therefore greatly interested to see how the Society had adapted the show in a modern setting and I certainly was not disappointed. READ NEXT: Tipperary family receives apology from HSE after missed scan led to father’s death The show opened in fine style with A Road to the Castle, a lively scene featuring very strong vocals and energetic dancing from the adult chorus, immediately setting a high standard for the evening. Audiences were then taken on a colourful journey through a series of well-realised scenes, including Widow Muffet’s Farm, the bustling Village Fair, the towering Beanstalk, the imagination of Cloudland and the atmospheric Villain’s Cave. At the heart of the story was Jack Muffet, played with boundless energy and charm by Stephen Stokes, supported by Alannah Rose Walsh as his brother Billy and Ellie Peters as their warm-hearted mother, the Widow. Their performances struck an effective balance between comedy, warmth and classic pantomime fun. READ NEXT: Quiz night to raise funds for two worthy Tipperary organisations Royal duties were ably discharged by Sam Ryan as the delightfully pompous King Satupon the Seventh and Katie Russell as the
PICTURES: Tipperary Pantomime Society scale new heights with Jack and the Beanstalk
Under the steady guidance of producer Pat Ryan and choreographer Catherine Ryan, this was pantomime at its best; colourful, inclusive and full of heart.
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The King, Sam Ryan, Widow Muffet, Ellie Peters, Jack Muffet, Stephen Stokes and Billy Muffet, Alannah Rose Rose, in Jack and the Beanstalk.
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The Junior and Senior Chorus performing in Jack and the Beanstalk.
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The children performing in the cave in Cloudland in Jack and the Beanstalk.
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Princess Rosemary, Katie Russell, with Daisy the Cow in Cloudland, in Jack and the Beanstalk.
