Peter Pan

Peter Pan was first written as a play in 1904, and was then entitled Peter Pan, the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. It has been a worldwide favourite since then, and probably will continue to be so for centuries to come. Graham Botterill here skilfully adapted it for the Nomads’ production, including all kinds of jolly songs and an amazing number of corny jokes, some of which were even quite funny! This production was full of exquisite dancing, marvellous singing, energy, and enthusiasm.

The Nomad Theatre is a well-equipped comfortable theatre, a well-visited little gem tucked away behind a row of shops in East Horsley.

The scenery and back projections were well-designed and interesting.

Costumes were splendid, the Pirates, Nanna, Tinkerbell, the Dancing Sailors, the Native Warriors, the Shadow, Peter Pan, all were very good indeed. Makeup was very fine too, especially for Nanna and Tinkerbell, and I noticed that it had been done by students from Guildford College Media Makeup Diploma course.

Both lighting and sound were very good throughout, and the balance of sound between singers and accompaniment was excellent.

Samantha Potten made a wonderful job of choreographing this show. Her dance numbers were perfect, there was good use of the stage throughout, and the performers looked relaxed, and appeared well-trained and very proficient indeed.

Excellent work too by Musical Director Steve Fitton. The musical numbers were well-chosen, and very finely carried out by the team, who were all in great voice.

Graham Botterill had assembled a very talented cast, many of whom were part of the Nomes, the Nomads’ youth group. The Pirates of course were all hearty fellows of a more mature vintage. Enthusiasm and energy prevailed amongst them all, and of course a huge amount of talent, and good acting skills.

There were various comic references to modern day phenomena of which I am not particularly aware, for example Tik Tok – and the young dancers wowed us with their slick routine here. The opening ball scene was fun, with the Darling children awarding points out of ten (a reference to Strictly?). Wendy Darling (Rosie Paulson) gave a lovely rendering of the old Danny Kaye number ‘Inchworm’, as she was sewing Peter Pan’s shadow back on.

The flying scene used a video projection and was very effective. I kept asking myself how they did that!

The bereft, miserable Mrs Darling (Hannah Jordan) gave a plaintive and clever version of Cups (from the film Pitch Perfect, I believe).  Mike Ayres gave us a feisty, intrepid Nanna with the most charming warm personality. Nanna’s makeup and fun, and outrageous at the end, as befit the pantomime dame.

Stuart Tomkins made a wonderfully scary Captain Hook, and gave a fine solo with ‘I’m Reviewing the Situation’. The Pirate Chorus were impressive with ‘What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor’, ‘With Catlike Tread, and ‘Fifteen Men On A Dead Man’s Chest’. The lyrics to the songs were changed where appropriate very amusingly to add to the proceedings. Their boat was very believable, with a fine ship’s wheel, and a lookout on the Crows Nest. Nanna made a fine job of scrubbing the deck, flirting all the while with the smitten Smee (Steve Fitton).

Peter Pan (Amelia Potten) and Tinkerbell (Emily Davey) were great. I particularly liked Tinkerbell’s pointy ears and amazing makeup. But of course, I loved their acting and singing too. All the young cast excelled themselves with their prowess at all three skills, acting, singing and dancing. The chorus numbers were brilliantly done, especially ‘Wellerman’, ‘Our House’, ‘Sloop John B’ and ‘Crocodile Rock’, all knew exactly what they were doing, the numbers were so well choreographed, very slick, and the energy and the voices were amazing.

The appearance of the Medicine Men gave rise to some funny gags referencing our current tribulations trying to access a GP appointment. 

Great work by Graham Botterill, both in the adaptation and in direction. So much fun, so many gags, such talent and skill in all the performers, too many to mention individually here. The audience loved it, every minute. Thank you, Nomads, for a great pre-Christmas treat!

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