Peter Pan

What a great way to spend a wet and windy Sunday afternoon watching an outstanding production of J.M. Barrie’s "Peter Pan" the well-known story about the boy who refused to grow up - an adventure that also includes Pirates, Lost Boys, Fairies, Mermaids, and a tribe of local people, all living in a place called Neverland and brought to us by Ormskirk Pleasure Folk. The enjoyment and enthusiasm on the stage and from the audience in the auditorium was palpable all through the performance. I found my attention fully engaged from the beginning to the end.  

Directed by Gemma Briscoe, who had in the cast some very talented performers who all suited their very different roles producing some very good acting, brilliant comedy and outstanding singing, meaning it is very difficult for me to pick anyone out as they were all excellent.

The cast who worked together as a team included Emily Mayne as Peter Pan. Emily’s acting, and singing, was outstanding and the Darling Children were just right and gelled together well. They were Hannah Arnold as Wendy, Joel Morley as John, and Mia Beqo as Michael. Then we had the important Pantomime comedy roles, which included Jim Briscoe taking on two very different Dame roles this year - they were Mrs Darling and the larger role of Lady Starky, Smee’s mother and member of Captain Hook’s crew. The excellent Scott Allan was Smee. Not only did both Jim and Scott produce their own very comedic performances, they also had a wonderful connection and made a very funny double act when they came together on stage, they also had a brilliant connection with the audience as did Jamie Mather who was the baddie Captain Hook who also produced a very good comedy performance, all three were spot on with their comic timing. Then we have Eden Wainwright as Tinker Bell who looked and acted just how one would imagine Tinker Bell. Isla Graham showed aptitude for slapstick comedy during the boat scene and had very good stage presence as Tiger Lily. There were also good performances from Steve Rutter as Mr. Darling and Steve Coghlan as Chief Willy, both supported the principle cast well. We had the lost boys who were all very upbeat characters they appeared to be really enjoying themselves and included Megan Lawson as Tootles, Meg Clarke as Slightly, Scarlett Simm as Twin 1, Hattie, Mahood as Twin 2, Darcy Main as Nibs, and Toby Wainwright as Curley.

The ensemble was very supportive of the principal cast while producing some entertaining characters of their own, they were full of energy and enjoyment their dedication to providing a good show was perceivable to the audience. I liked the idea of having dedicated upbeat music when the Pirates and the lost Boys entered it added to the energy of the Pantomime.        

One of the highlights of the show was a rendition of that iconic song from “Wicked” namely “Defying Gravity”, sung by Isa Graham, Emily Mayne. and Hannah Arnold, all three performed with power, confidence and a great deal of maturity and their performance was enthusiastically received by the audience.

The Musical Director was Nancy Wells with assistance from Marley Ellis Brennan with Vince Wilcock on drums, Emily Chapple on Flute and Benjamin Lawson playing guitar. They complimented and supported the cast excellently and helped raise the songs and singing to a high standard such as when cast members were performing “Defying Gravity” Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and “Top of the World” all with the help and support of Ciara McEntee as vocal coach. The musical numbers were spot on for the production as a whole and the content of the story.

Choreographer Liz Wainwright, with assistance from Daisy Carroll, produced some lovely applicable movement and dance routines that the cast and dancers performed efficiently and entertainingly enhancing the musical numbers the action and the characters on stage.

The set and scenes were bright, colourful, and just right for the story, scenes were changed efficiently and smoothly so well done to Stage Manager Michael Chambers and all the backstage crew who along with excellent technical input added to the smooth running and the good pace of the show.

Costumes were bright and colourful and just right for the story and characters adding to the overall atmosphere of the show, a great deal of work must have gone into getting them just right.

Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this production to the stage I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon with you. It was an outstanding production which the audience enjoyed very much as evident from the people sat near me. Thank you very much for inviting me. I hope to see you again next year.

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