Profanity reigns supreme in the adult themed Jack and the Beanstalk at City Limits Comedy Club Cork. In a theatre calendar packed with stalwarts like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, this racy approach to the timeless tale of a boy and his beans offers a breath of fresh air that is sure to entertain and offend in equal amounts.

Jack and his mother eke out a living with the help of their trusty cow, but it is here that Director Trevor Ryan departs from the moral high ground seen in Benjamin Tabart’s original 1807 version. As well as producing milk, Gravy the buxom cow (Marie O’Donovan) also dishes out plenty of cheek. O’Donovan succeeds in convincing the audience of her character’s extreme disdain for the dodgy dealings that follow, in a manner that would work well in mainstream panto.

This alternate version also sees a well-chosen Jack (Sebastian Thommen) having had the misfortune to be blessed with a less-than-optimum IQ, meaning he is even more easily led astray than his predecessor. His tortured ‘mother’, a term that can only be used loosely in this case (handled with aplomb by Peter O’Mahony), is at her wit’s end, thanks to tax increases by the cruel government of the land (empathising with the audience always wins them over).

They attempt to recoup their losses through selling a certain herb, which attracts the attention of the panto equivalent of the Revenue Commissioners, headed up by the wicked sorceress Viper Serpentine (played by the versatile George Hanover). Chaos ensues, as it should, when good and evil clash. She is assisted by her henchman Tinkerballs (script writer Adrian Scanlan), who delivers some of the most memorable lines of the performance, though a portion waver between poor and appalling in taste. The irritatingly upbeat Princess Random (Angela Newman) runs interference by constantly introducing irrelevant (if hilarious) information.

The venue, already quite intimate, is made even more so by a clever layout. If you dislike audience participation however, it may be best to lurk in the shadows. A series of props that could have been sourced from Ann Summers, along with a handful of outrageous musical numbers, further lighten this extremely modern retelling.

The stalk used to reach the giant’s lair may also be in danger of coming to the attention of Cork’s Drug Squad before the end of the run. Video clips scattered throughout the production are over-used, but equally the audience are treated to some wonderful tongue-in-cheek film tributes.

If you’re looking for wholesome, family fun, perhaps a stroll through the Christmas market on the Grand Parade beckons. If you seek a deliciously inventive and saucy retelling that lets you swap budget woes for magic beans, then Chattyboo’s Original Adult Panto may be right up your tree. Will you regret it? Oh no you won’t!

Strictly over 18s Running 13th-15th, 20th-23rd, 27th-30th December and 2nd-7th January @ 8pm City Limits Comedy Club Cork
Tickets: €15/€12 group rates available. Bookings call 089-4427883