Review: JACK AND PHIL, SLAYERS OF GIANTS-INC at Imagination Stage

If you only had one friend in the world who may be leaving you, how far would you go to help him? And when your friendship is tested by overwhelming obstacles, how do you fix it?

Such are the central questions asked by Jack (CHRIS DINOLFO) and Phil (ADI STEIN) in Imagination Stage's JACK AND PHIL, SLAYERS OF GIANTS-INC. The story is a modern, somewhat silly retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, with a host of other characters thrown into the mix.

Jack, afraid that he and his mother will lose their house to the bank, enlists his neurotic, devoted friend Phil to help him find some fast cash. The pair travels across their hometown of Chewsville to a pawn shop where they exchange Jack's family heirloom watch for "magic beans" and a sage warning. Once the beans grow into the largest beanstalk anyone has ever seen, the friends begin a dividing quest involving golden objects, a talking harp, fame-crazed parents and a man-eating giant.

The modern twist on this story works pretty well. The characters have televisions and iPhones, and Jack's and Phil's quest becomes a media sensation. Jack's meteoric fame quickly goes to his head, and both boys are forced to learn what happens when you keep secrets or lie. While it's a bit repetitive with the structure of the story, it makes sense to keep building the problems between the boys. Adults will enjoy some humor clearly written for them, and children will enjoy the over the top characters.

The dynamic of these two unlikely friends is great. Dinolfo makes Jack an impulsive "act first, regret it later" type of jock, and Stein helps you remember Chucky in "Rugrats" constantly saying "I don't think this is a good idea". Stein portrays a wonderful combination of shy, sarcastic and loyal, showing how much he wants to keep his friend. Dinolfo is funny, engaging, and every child in the audience loved his dance moves.

The pair are supported by a talented ensemble, some newcomers and some returners to Imagination Stage. KATY CARKUFF as Jack's mom Barbara is both sassy and empathetic. She is especially good when her character displays what sudden fame and cameras can do in the moment. JAMIE SMITHSON plays three outrageous characters, the best being Chaz, a stuttering, overexcited reporter who seriously struggles with adjectives. ERIC M. MESSNER is Phil's dad Bill, a constant salesman whose flustered addresses to Barbara are fun.

Scenic Designer Daniel Ettinger gives the production a fairly simple but strategically sound set. The entire stage is set in a blue and green frame, with Phil's house on the left and Jack's on the right. When the boys are up in the mysterious cloud, the giant appears through two metal openings to illustrate size. It's a smart design; however, it looked like some of the transitions between scenes still needed to be worked out with both actors and stagehands. Sound Designer Christopher Baine does a good job of balancing volume with the giant, and gives humor with the sounds of falling sheep.

JACK AND PHIL, SLAYERS OF GIANTS-INC gives audiences a lot of fun, but also a good set of lessons. It teaches the ideas of being kind to your friends, doing the right thing, and remembering what matters when everything suddenly changes, either for better or for worse. Children and adults will get a lot of laughs, but they will also get a good time together. And that can be a giant task.

JACK AND PHIL, SLAYERS OF GIANTS-INC continues through March 13th at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD. There are some scary scenes, so the show is recommended for ages 5 and older. For more information, visit the production page.

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