Beauty and the Beast panto has contemporary twist for Christmas

Beauty and the Beast, GMG Productions, St James Theatre, Dec 14-17, Reviewed by Sarah Catherall.

The traditional Beauty and the Beast fairytale is wonderfully reworked for contemporary times – there is talk of rate rises and cycleways as Belle is cursed by the wicked witch – in this latest panto which leaves us all in stitches.

Erin Wells (What Now) is charming as the enchanting Belle, who among her many challenges has to deal with her annoying sister, Tynes, played by the brilliant and hilarious Caleb Jago-Ward (The Voice Australia, Hairspray and Grease). Tynes – with big hair and piles of make-up – likens the siblings to the “Sky Tower versus the Eiffel Tower’’.