Peter Pan

Sometimes when you mention that you are going to see a pantomime performance at a theatre, the occasional response is raised eyelids. The product is not everybody's taste.  However in Sheffield when you say you are seeing or have seen a Manor Operatic Society pantomime, the response is very different. This theatre product is premier league.

In excess of 20,000 people see this pantomime run at the Sheffield City Hall. Something must be right. To successfully entertain a mixed aged audience over fourteen performances, takes both production skills and high levels of energy from the onstage performers and backstage people. It is difficult to review the evenings experience without being too effusive.

The auditorium was buzzing before the show started with children eager for the event to start. I'll start with the band. Ten players plus Musical Director in the pit - or in this case the front of the stalls area. The instrument mix and sound balance was just right and not too imposing. Some of the chorus numbers were enhanced by supporting click tracks which are becoming used more in our circles to support moving singing/dance routines as indeed they are in professional theatre. A debate for another time perhaps.

The set and subsequent scene changes were practical whilst saying quality. No mean feat for a seventeen scene show that included flying. Whilst on the topic of flying, the overall effect of the two dimensional wire flying was enhanced by the third forward dimension, achieved  by the gauze rooftop projection, which was just magnificent. Quite the best I have ever seen in an amateur production.

There were no weak links in the casting. Peter Pan (James Smith) worked untiringly and Emma (Robert Spink) once again gave a complete dame performance. It would be remiss of me not to mention Tinkerbell (Emma Holmes) and Wendy (Christina Rice) who both acted and sang well whilst delivering good characterisations. The Lost Boys - I saw the Hook team - looked as if they were enjoying themselves and delivered the necessary storyline support.

I enjoyed the Mermaid scene (Let It Go) and the Act 1 closing musical number was - as expected - full blown. Lavish costumes, special effects, full chorus with supporting tumblers. Send the audience for their ice creams with something to talk about.       

My only comment regarding act one was that it was perhaps 10 minutes too long and some of the younger audience lost concentration.

Act 2 went like a train. Even though it had the Manor traditional Baking Number, Tiddly Winky Woo and Bucket Game segments, each scene was tight and did not stall the flow of the story. With this new script written for Manor, no expense spared on productions values and a company who know how to put on a top notch evening's pantomime entertainment, nobody can say they did not get value for their ticket money.

Congratulations to all the creative team of Richard Bradford, Linda Kelly and Andy Collis. A colourful and enjoyable evening that has you singing all the way back to your car.

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