Writers: Jon Bradfield & Martin Hooper
Songs: Jon Bradfield
Director: Andrew Beckett
Who could ever learn to love a beast? Arguably everyone. This adult production of Beauty and the Beast: A Horny Love Story is a charming, funny and warm-hearted portrayal of a classic tale, and audiences will easily fall in love with the Beast and the rest of the cast.
This tale is very different from the Disney version. Instead of France, the setting starts in the Scottish village of Lickmanochers, where Bertie (Matt Kennedy), an innocent yet horny virgin, just wants to meet others like himself. He plans to fly to New Zealand, but there is mischief afoot. Through a flashback scene, the audience learns how 25 years prior, two brothers’ lives changed due to a sorcerer (Dani Mirels).
One brother is cursed, while the other becomes a villain, causing the town locals to spend a lot of money on oil. Hearing there is a will that disinherits the evil brother, Flora (Matthew Baldwin), the mother of Bertie and his twin sister Bonny (Laura Anna-Mead), decides to venture to the castle where the will is said to be hidden. After some tomfoolery, she finds herself in need of saving. Enter Bertie, who decides to stay with the Beast (Keanu Adolphus Johnson) in his mother’s place.
This production is a light-hearted, naughty pantomime that knows exactly the type of play it is, and therefore does not take itself seriously, in the best way possible. There are a lot of dirty jokes, unserious moments between characters and tons of engagement with the audience. This creates a fun environment with unrestrained laughter and merriment from the audience accompanying each scene.
The jokes vary from references and nods to the Disney version, to opera, to pop culture and much more. The actors’ timing and comedic precision are masterfully done and allow the audience time to enjoy the wisecracks and witticisms before guiding them towards another hilarious scene.
The set is magnificent, and the transitions between scenes are smooth and impressive. The actors’ costumes are colourful and fun, and this is true especially for Baldwin. Baldwin is the standout among the cast, which is saying something as each character tends to steal the scene from one another.
This play has it all: a fun but meaningful message, outrageous costumes, and bawdy songs by Jon Bradfield. Sometimes, when drastically changing a classic tale that is well known, the foundations of the story can be lost. Here, this is not the case whatsoever. This production, through hilarious moments, tackles issues like identity, loneliness, and what it means to find love.
The only drawback to this production is the sound quality. At times, due to either the loud background music or the audience’s laughter, some of the actor’s words can not be heard properly. This is not always an issue and might be due to the actors’ microphones. Or perhaps this just goes to show how loud an audience can get when there are hilarious and naughty jokes to be told at the theatre.
Be sure to be a guest at the Charing Cross Theatre to properly see this hilarious adult pantomime of Beauty and the Beast.
Runs until 11 January 2026
