Wendy & Peter Pan

Anyone familiar with the story of Peter Pan, written by J.M. Barrie, knows that the protagonist and hero of the story is Peter Pan himself the little boy who refused to grow up.  In this version, Artistic Director Bobby Giles together with co-directors Saskia Dooley, Matthew Bain and Abbey Walters take Wendy on a journey not just to Neverland but a journey of self-discovery and her role in Edwardian society. It is also a bitter-sweet observation of parental grief, the power of belief and the enduring magic of childhood. 

The story starts in the Darling’s nursery, with John (Isaac Mather) and Michael (Lizzie Maye) playing a fighting game as John uses the beds as bunkers and takes aim with his rifle. We are introduced to another member of the Darling family, Tom (Clara Bastillo) who joins in with the playfighting. John tells Wendy (Bobbie Wilson) scathingly that girls cannot be Pirates and gets annoyed at Michael for not taking it seriously and in his frustration breaks a table lamp.  

We see at once the gender stereotypes, sister Wendy is not supposed to be joining in with violent playfighting.  The parents George Darling (Matthew Bain who also has a dual role as the villainous Captain Hook) and his wife, Mary Darling (Niámh Carroll who also doubles as Martin, one of the pirates) are gentle-natured and supportive of their children with Mr Darling joining in the fantasy make-believe by pretending to be a genie.  

Niámh was delightful in the role of Mrs Darling, and I liked the way she changed in character as she was left to deal with her grief. Her assertiveness at the end, as she gave her husband some home truths, was nicely delivered. Matthew Bain as Mr Darling showed his despair at the thought of losing his wife and his desperation to keep her at any cost very well.

Everything changes however, when Tom suddenly becomes sick and sadly dies.  Wendy sees Peter Pan (Saskia Dooley) and his shadows carry Tom away but where has he gone?  

One year later, Tom’s death is still having a profound effect on Mrs Darling, as she becomes fiercely overprotective of the children, refusing to accompany her husband on social engagements and angry at her husband’s patronising attitude to her grief.   Mr Darling himself seems to be in some stage of denial about Tom’s death.

Once Peter Pan appears looking for his shadow, we see his big-headed immature, personality bragging about his many achievements to Wendy. This role perfectly suited the high-energy delivery of Saskia, and her verbal delivery matched the frenetic pace of her movements.  Saskia captured the essence of this self-centred, trickster character perfectly and showed boundless energy, her relationship with Tinkerbell was a definite highlight especially the death of Tinkerbell with Saskia frantically encouraging the audience to join in with a belief in fairies to save her life.  

Peter Pan is accompanied as usual by his fairy side-kick Tinkerbell (Lydia Sanderson). Lydia played Tink like a stroppy teenager stomping around the stage, scowling sourly at Wendy, using contemporary insults to taunt Wendy ‘put a sock in it’ and calling her a ‘dipstick in a nightie.’  Her body language and facial expressions were always in character, and she created a wonderful sassy Tinkerbell fiercely protective of Peter and ready to give her life for his. I loved her woodland sprite costume mirroring the shades of green in Peter Pan’s costume and the flecks of sparkly green glitter in her hair.

Once in Neverland, we meet the Lost Boys who are wild and savage children wearing face-paint and patched clothes. Each has a different personality. Nibs (Jade Morrison O’Reilly) is the confident stand in leader in Peter’s absence, Slightly (Shannon Baker) insists he remembers his life before being a Lost Boy, Curly (Isabelle Hetherington) always up for a fight and Tootles (Abbey Walters) the sweet-natured insecure one of the group, who is tricked by the jealous Tink into shooting down the ‘Wendy bird.’ Tootles is an over-the-top hugger and talks to himself reassuring himself of his bravery. They are all uncultured lacking social skills either awkward or overly affectionate towards Wendy and all think she will be their perfect mother. 

Bobbie Wilson played Wendy initially as a young girl condemned to live out her stereotypical future but then realising that she could be the mistress of her own destiny and heal her parents’ marriage by discovering the whereabouts of her brother Tom. Her interactions with Peter Pan were good as she tried to engage him in playing father to her mother only to realise that he was too selfish in his own life choices preferring to stay a boy forever. Bobbie delivered her copious number of lines well, and she highlighted the contrast in her growth of character using the experience to become a mature young woman, who was more than a match for Hook, fighting her own battles showing that girls can be pirates too. 

The pirates were led by Captain Hook who has one lifegoal; the destruction of Peter Pan. Matthew Bain played the titular villain with an upper-class gravitas and a psychological manipulative edge taunting Wendy into believing that Peter Pan had abandoned her, using her surname ‘Darling’ like a parent’s nickname for a child to gain her trust. He was cruel and vindictive living in constant terror of the crocodile who had eaten his hand following a battle with his nemesis.  

Hook was accompanied by Smee (Andrew Mulholland) who hero worshipped Hook in an unrequited bromance way.  He played the role with a camp attitude with references to ‘shabby chic’ and ‘swatches of fabric’ and provided much of the humour in the show. I liked the paintbrushes in his hat showing his creative side. Smee also showed a darker misogynistic attitude towards Wendy calling her ‘such a moaner’ seeing her as a rival for Hook’s attentions.  His final death scene telling Hook he would meet him at his fantasy cottage was well performed. 

Another strong character is kickass girl power warrior Tigerlily (Casey Stephens) who has lost all her family to Hook and the pirates.  She is understandably bitter and hellbent on avenging her tribe and has no time for the girlish Wendy.  Her growing respect for Wendy however allows them to join forces as they escape the pirate ship as she lays down her life taking a bullet intended for Wendy.

The pirates were a bloodthirsty crew; Doc Swain (Sophie Arnold) Murt (Scarlett Adams) Jones (Jenna Mulholland) and Skylight (Casey Stephens who also doubled as Tigerlily) smeared with blood and gore and ready for a fight. One pirate however was not suited to life on the open wave and that was Martin who suffered from hay fever and lied to Hook about killing Tigerlily who becomes Wendy’s confidant and rescuer believing that he should have been a Lost Boy.  I loved Niámh’s sneezing and nasally delivery of her lines.

Gradually, Wendy realises that her traditional role of nurturing mother type that the Lost Boys want her to be, is not the one for her and joins forces with Tigerlily even managing to win over Tinkerbell.  Wendy then fights Hook in one-on-one combat. 

We also learn that deceased children become stars trapped by their mother’s tears until one moment of true happiness releases them to live and play forever as a Lost Boy. Will Wendy, who blames herself for her brother’s illness and death, be able to finally free his spirit with one moment of pure happiness?

The set was used effectively, with metal beds and a projection of a window for the nursery with some of the beds covered with pieces of camouflage netting to create the Lost Boys’ lair. The pirate ship was created using a wooden ship’s wheel and pirate flags.  Lighting was used well especially turning the stage green to signify the invisible crocodile with clockwork accompaniment sound effects. Projections were also used for a backdrop of moon and stars for the flying to Neverland scene. 

Costumes reflected the characters well with the addition of make-up, such as the war paint for the lost boys and pirate gore, provided by Niámh. I was impressed with Captain Hook’s debonair costume, long leather jacket and a 3D printed hook. I also liked the overall look created for the Lost Boys and the Pirates. 

The fight scenes were good, as I noticed from the programme that the cast had some instruction in fighting and stage combat, and this was used in the fight scenes accompanied by sound effects of clashing cutlasses. 

Well done Action Community Theatre for a unique approach to a timeless classic, it was obvious this was very much a team collaboration and that everyone on stage (and behind the scenes with directing, costume design/hair and make-up, sound design and set design) was having lots of fun in the roles of blood-thirsty pirates and Lost Boys as they battled for control of Neverland. 

Thank you for the lovely warm welcome from Abbey and the opportunity to meet the rest of cast after the show.  I look forward to your next production, Collected Grimm Tales, in September. 

 

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