Review: Jack and the Beanstalk at Windsor's Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal serves up a pantomime dish this Christmas that leaves audiences full of beans.

Jack and the Beanstalk has all the expected accompaniments – Daisy the Cow, a terrifying 10ft giant and a bag of magic beans...

But this year's offering is raised out of the ordinary by its impressive cast and funny, up-to-the-minute script, and they could just sit back and, as the script said, 'hashtag chillax'.

Kevin Cruise – a man born to be in panto - is riotous from the moment he bursts on stage, whipping up the mood so well that before you know it we're all up on our feet dancing Gangnam Style.

His infectious humour is complemented well by Matthew 'Stars in their Eyes' Kelly, who was having a ball as the King of Windsoria, and the fabulous Dame Nellie Trott, played by Steven Blakeley, who also writes and directs.

The trio bring the house down with their sketch The 12 Days of Christmas, where 'partridge in a pear tree', becomes a 'bra that can only hold three'.

They are well supported by the giant's henchwoman, Bond girl Britt Ekland – 'the girl with the golden stun gun' - and by the good fairy, played by Sixties pop icon Anita Harris, both of whom give gutsy performances that will warm the hearts of women of advancing years – and please their menfolk too.

There's plenty for the younger ones, who were particularly taken with appearances by Postman Pat and Jess and a performing Chihuahua called Tequila

More could have been made of the demise of the giant, and the Royal Wedding finale was all too brief.

But the show gave plenty of bangs for your buck and the audience departed into the frosty night with a smile on its collective face.

Jack and the Beanstalk is playing at the Theatre Royal until Sunday, January 6.