A Musical Misstep: 'Caroline and the Beanstalk' Falls Flat Despite Pizzazz
Jonathan O'Neill and Isaac Savage's latest adaptation of a classic tale is, in a word, bemusing. This "new moooosical" sees Jack taken to second billing, with highland cow Caroline being the real star of the show – not that the title 'Jack and the Beanstalk' would suggest otherwise.
The talented Suzie McAdam shines as Caroline, delivering a tour-de-force performance despite her character's rather predictable arc. Once a prized family pet, she's relegated to the Happy Smiles Petting Zoo after business fails, only to hatch a clever escape plan with some feathered and furry friends. The 10-strong cast, featuring Brian Cox's booming voice, bring a welcome energy to the show.
However, in shifting the emphasis from archetypal wonder to lighthearted caper, Stephen Whitson's production loses its sense of magic. Gone are the thrill of discovery and the terror of childhood; instead, we're treated to a hazily dramatised tale marred by cynicism. Even Jack's mum Sherry feels forced into catty one-liners, while her son Jack comes off as selfish.
The story meanders, relying on expository dialogue rather than subtlety, and is frequently interrupted by songs that feel more like commercial breaks than genuine dramatic flourishes. And yet, those songs – an eclectic collection of Americana, Broadway, vaudeville, and rap influences – do showcase the cast's impressive vocal range.
Under Lisa Darnell's crisp choreography and Isaac Savage's musical direction, the show feels superficially lively, with McAdam's powerful ballad 'Udderly Alone' being a particular highlight. Yet, beneath the flashy trappings lies an emotionally hollow experience that fails to connect on a deeper level.
Despite its flaws, Caroline and the Beanstalk remains visually impressive and entertaining enough to keep you in the theatre until the curtain falls – but it's a shame the true magic of the original tale has been lost in translation.
Jonathan O'Neill and Isaac Savage's latest adaptation of a classic tale is, in a word, bemusing. This "new moooosical" sees Jack taken to second billing, with highland cow Caroline being the real star of the show – not that the title 'Jack and the Beanstalk' would suggest otherwise.
The talented Suzie McAdam shines as Caroline, delivering a tour-de-force performance despite her character's rather predictable arc. Once a prized family pet, she's relegated to the Happy Smiles Petting Zoo after business fails, only to hatch a clever escape plan with some feathered and furry friends. The 10-strong cast, featuring Brian Cox's booming voice, bring a welcome energy to the show.
However, in shifting the emphasis from archetypal wonder to lighthearted caper, Stephen Whitson's production loses its sense of magic. Gone are the thrill of discovery and the terror of childhood; instead, we're treated to a hazily dramatised tale marred by cynicism. Even Jack's mum Sherry feels forced into catty one-liners, while her son Jack comes off as selfish.
The story meanders, relying on expository dialogue rather than subtlety, and is frequently interrupted by songs that feel more like commercial breaks than genuine dramatic flourishes. And yet, those songs – an eclectic collection of Americana, Broadway, vaudeville, and rap influences – do showcase the cast's impressive vocal range.
Under Lisa Darnell's crisp choreography and Isaac Savage's musical direction, the show feels superficially lively, with McAdam's powerful ballad 'Udderly Alone' being a particular highlight. Yet, beneath the flashy trappings lies an emotionally hollow experience that fails to connect on a deeper level.
Despite its flaws, Caroline and the Beanstalk remains visually impressive and entertaining enough to keep you in the theatre until the curtain falls – but it's a shame the true magic of the original tale has been lost in translation.
they took away the whole mystical, thrilling vibe from the beanstalk story and replaced it with some kinda lighthearted comedy 
and let's be real, caroline as the main character is just too cute to save this show 
but seriously the songs feel so forced and the dialogue is cringey at times 
i mean who wrote these one-liners for sherry tho?! 
jacks mum needs more depth pls 
. The girl cow, Caroline, is actually pretty cool, Suzie McAdam does a great job with her, but the whole thing feels kinda... off 
. They're not really focusing on the scary part of the story, just the fun parts and that takes away some of the magic 
. And don't even get me started on Jack's mum, those one-liners were cringeworthy 
. The music is catchy I'll give them that, but it feels like they're just trying to fill in gaps with songs instead of actually telling a story 
. Still, it was fun to watch and the costumes are on point 
, but really he's just cringeworthy. The energy and visuals are on point, but the story itself feels like a watered-down version of the original fairy tale. I'm all for diversity in music styles, but it's like they're trying to fit too many puzzle pieces into a single show 
. But hey, at least the cast has some impressive vocal chops! Suzie McAdam's performance as Caroline was definitely a highlight, and I loved her powerful ballad 'Udderly Alone'. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to save the show from its overall lack of emotional depth 
.
. Maybe fans of the classic tale will still enjoy it, even if it doesn't quite live up to expectations 
.
the music is cool i guess but its not enough to save this mess of a show 
. I get that they wanted to shake things up, but it feels like they took all the whimsy and wonder outta "Jack and the Beanstalk" 
. Suzie McAdam's performance as Caroline is super impressive tho! 
I felt like I was watching a cartoon instead of a full-on musical 
. And don't even get me started on those songs 
.
another musical adaptation gone wrong 
. The cast is talented for sure, especially Suzie McAdam as Caroline, but the story meanders a lot and feels like it's trying to be everything at once - comedy, drama, musical numbers... it just doesn't quite land. And don't even get me started on the songs, they feel like they're there just to break up the act 
! They took away the magical part that makes the story so iconic and just made it a silly caper 
. And don't even get me started on how they handled Jack's character... selfish? 
It just didn't feel right, you know? The music was kinda cool though 
and the cast had a lot of energy - it's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of musicals. But for me, it was just an enjoyable night out, not something that left me feeling really moved or connected to the story 
It's so... cynical and forced with all those songs that feel like they're trying too hard to be edgy 
And don't even get me started on Jack, he's basically just a prop 
Still, it was kinda fun to watch and the choreography was on point 