Peter Pan

Interesting that Maria McCann wanted her own adaptation from the book and then into a strong direction with the cast to keep the story (apart from final line which she knows!). The sound as backing tracks, mood and atmosphere creation, and for the singing was very good, well controlled with no blank moments (and covering all scene changes on small stage). Clever sets and staging for the various scenes: the ‘flying’ to Neverland imaginatively realised and lit.

In the nursery we met Nanny Nellie (Tom Key) enjoying himself immensely as a strong comic personality dame working well with the children, all the lost boys and particularly with Smee (Zac Sowter): the comedy number between these two was true classic panto routine, excellent.

Adding to the fun and audience participation, Josh Francis as Curly was very energetic in his rushing around and being on the right spot, and certainly he roused the noise level in the audience.

Back to the story: a delightful Wendy from Beth Robertson who looked the part and sang well, good relationship to Peter. Her brothers John (Josh Lincoln) in hat, and 7 year-old Michael (Aydan Taylor Ellis) completed the expedition to Neverland with excitement and interacted with all the lost boys.

A strong acting role well fulfilled and a good singing voice, nice interactive personality, the Peter Pan from Liz Taylor really kept to the book and reminded us all of what happens, a nice interpretation, and how well she worked with all members of the cast which is a requirement of this role and took all audience on to her side.

And in the lost world of Neverland, Tinkerbell (Alexandra Tranmer) showed her jealousy with Peter but came to his aid, Tootles (Sam Mann) showed his distress at the shooting of the ‘Wendy-Bird and doubled as the Indian Chief. Isla Butcher was a nice Tiger Lily. A wicked Starkey (Laurence Barnett) was leader of the Pirate Band in the search for Peter Pan, and tried in vain to control the incompetent and amusing duo Proclamation (Chris Morter) and Cecco (Jack Morter) to no avail. And of course the villain of the piece Captain Hook (Ian Taylor) lost his temper and all the rest with the advances of Tick Tock the crocodile (Jennie Harrison).

But all ended happily in the end to the delight of the Darling parents (and was it a dream or not?).

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