Peter Pan

The front cloth of an island map gave way to the first scene, which was set in a London market, and the opening number of 'London is London'. As I would expect with this company, there was great attack right from the start. This was an energetic scene and this level of energy continued throughout the production, with every member of cast giving one hundred percent. 

Initially I found the costumes to be disappointing, as they seemed rather drab, but later, when the characters arrived in Neverland, they suddenly became very much more colourful and I realised in retrospect that the Director's intention was similar to that of 'Wizard of Oz', with the 'fantasy' world (in this case Neverland) being vibrant and colourful, compared to the sepia world of 'real life'. However, it did deprive the show of an initial 'wow' factor on curtain up. Also, it meant that the Dame appeared virtually unnoticed, and perhaps therefore had to work harder initially to establish her character.  I felt as if the audience didn't fully appreciate her until she appeared in a more familiar outrageous costume and wig later in the show.

The initial gags of 'Hook, cook, book' etc were delivered with good timing, and the early interplay between Delia and Starkey helped to warm up the audience. This is important in this show as there is quite a lot of plot development to get through initially, before the pantomime elements begin to kick in.

The Darlings' house and bedroom were beautifully created with only a few items of set: French windows, wardrobe, dressing table and 3 ingenious little beds, all set in front of a London skyline cloth. Subsequent sets were equally impressive, particularly the mermaid's lagoon which used a cloth to create the water, and the Lost Boys' burrow which allowed us to see inside and out at the same time. The Jolly Roger was also a delightful set. All the sets allowed plenty of room for the cast, whilst giving the impression that they filled the stage, which was very clever.

The young principal performers all established themselves with great skill, and each appeared to really understand their character. Tinkerbell was mischievous but stroppy, Peter Pan was full of bravado, and Wendy extremely maternal. Lines delivered by the Lost Boys and Indians were all very clear and well enunciated. The pirates all worked well as a group, whilst managing to add their own personalities to their parts.

The initial entrance of the crocodile, on a moving truck, worked well, and subsequent crocodiles were equally impressive and well used. Special mention should go to the excellent parrot puppet, with it's surprising special effects!

There were a variety of well staged numbers, including the Barrymore-style clapping routine, the pseudo-tap number 'Putting on the Ritz', and the use of tin trays in the 'I got rhythm' dance. Many familiar songs had new lyrics written to suit the setting, and this added an extra dimension to many of the musical numbers. The duet 'Something to believe in' was performed with great conviction by Peter and Wendy. The song-sheet scene was well handled by the Dame and comedy duo, and the scene was not too long (as can happen sometimes!). I was a little disappointed that there was no formal 'walk-down' at the end as, whilst I appreciate the desire to sometimes do things differently, as an audience member I do like to be given the opportunity to applaud when I have enjoyed a show and the performances therein. I also would have liked an upbeat number to finish, but that is down to personal taste. Music was pre-recorded and the click-tracks were well cued. Tinkerbell's bells were a nice touch.

Lighting was good, creating just the right mood, with the star-cloth used to good effect. Props were appropriate and well-used. Costumes (once we got to Neverland) were colourful and well fitting, with each group of ensemble (pirates, lost boys, Indians) having their own 'look'.

As I have already mentioned, the energy level exhibited by the cast was exceptional, but just occasionally, it spilled over into chaos so that it was not totally clear what was happening. For example, the scene on the Jolly Roger at the time of the fight, involved such a lot of movement and noise, it was difficult to know where to look, and to hear the important dialogue. As a result it was not clear why or how Hook was flying. It is important to remain disciplined and to focus the attention onto the important parts of the stage and story, whilst still giving full energy to the scene, so that the story is not lost.

The mechanics of flying actors is fraught with difficulty and this company made an excellent attempt at it. I know the problems with rehearsal time at this theatre, and this obviously would account for the fact that the flying looked a little tentative and under-rehearsed. Nonetheless, the flying was a real crowd pleaser.

This company is fortunate to be able to call upon some very experienced pantomime performers and they, together with an energetic and enthusiastic young ensemble, ensured that this tongue-in-cheek modern take on the pantomime genre was a big success. Thank you for a lovely night's entertainment.

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