REVIEW: Festive fun for all the family at Helix panto spectacular

YOU know it’s definitely Christmas when the panto season arrives!

This age-old Dublin tradition sees families flock to theatres across the country for the various spectacles treading the boards and, as always, there are many to choose from in Dublin.

My first pantomime in years (surprising, considering I have a seven-year-old and a four-year-old!) was an eye-opener to the talent and brilliance to be enjoyed this festive season.

We attended one of the first shows of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ at the Helix last week and it was a joyful experience for all three generations of the family who came along.

To be honest, having not been at a pantomime for years, I assumed that it is purely for the kids, but I was surprised and delighted at the number of hilarious nod, wink jokes that only the adult members of the audience would get.

But, of course, the show really is for the kids and those who were packed into the Helix had a ball.

There was an almost continuous roll of laughter and raucous shouts of ‘he’s behind you’ and ‘oh no you don’t’ throughout the two-hour performance.

The interaction with the audience was skilful and the actors, each a star in their own right, had them in the palms of their hands from the opening curtain.

At the centre of all the action is, of course, Jack, played by the “smouldering West End heartthrob” and Bray native Niall Sheehy, whose gorgeous good looks and stunning voice have already won him starring roles in ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Wicked’ and ‘Miss Saigon’, among others.

A finalist on the hit ITV show ‘Superstar’, Niall has also starred in the musical ‘Pure Imagination’ and played a leading role in the International Theatre Frankfurt’s production of ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’.

OK, I may not have been dazzled by his good looks but the man has made his Jack a magical all-singing, all-dancing superstar on the small stage.

Produced by TheatreworX and co-written by Karl Harpur and Claire Tighe, their version of the classic tale is set in Ballybrutal, a town full of fantastic  characters such as  the wickedly funny Eoin Cannon, who returns as Professor Ploncouer, with hilarious sidekick Aidan Mannion, as ‘Howaya’. The beautiful Orla Jennings joins the cast for the first time as Jill.

Call the box office on 01 7007000 or visit www.thehelix.ie