Mischief Theatre's production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong was staged at the Lowry Theatre Salford tonight and played to a packed out auditorium. Chris Bean (Connor Crawford) the President of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society most definitely claims "This is not a pantomime," Despite his co/assistant Director Robert Grove (Oliver Senton) insisting that it is. However, What Peter Pan Goes Wrong is, is a hilarious and ingenious farce, in which, instead of Peter Pan's traditional declaration that to die would be an awfully big adventure, it is more of an awfully big misadventure.
We all know the story of Peter Pan and interestingly it was actually never written by JM Barrie to be performed as a panto. The story of Peter Pan the boy who never wanted to grow up was rather a serious tale, highlighting the pains of growing up, and the loneliness of not being parented by a mother. Mischief Theatre have created this show with a less sombre undertone and have produced the show of Peter Pan that we all know and love into a constant and relentless series of theatrical mishaps and twist and turns of the cast's lives, that results in the funniest show I have seen in a very long time.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong follows Mischief's Olivier Award winning and hugely successful show, The Play That Goes Wrong, which mirrors the identical formula of this evening,s hilarity and theatrical mayhem.
Tonight’s cast including Katy Daghorn, Tom Babbage, Ciaran Kellgren, Oliver Senton, Connor Crawford, Romayne Andrews, Pheobe Ellabani, Ethan Moorhouse, Georgia Bradley, Patrick Warner and others were all phenomenally bad and yet brilliant at the same time as the show Peter Pan fell apart before our eyes. We all know in the world of show business that some actors 'dry' and that some shows 'die' and it can be a deeply uncomfortable experience to watch. However in Peter Pan Goes Wrong, both the drying and the dying are an awfully big (mis)adventure, and are intentionally so. The only discomfort I felt in tonight’s show was the one triggered by my relentless and uncontrollable laughter. I don't think I've heard laughter as loud or as continuous in a theatre ever before. There were seriously moments tonight when I could barely breathe or see, as I laughed that hard I had tears streaming down my face and was gasping for air between the deep heart-felt belly laughs.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong showcases some predictable flying-related disasters, with the ‘actors’ swinging helplessly into scenery, slamming to the floor or abruptly disappearing. Whilst this and the various set malfunctions are great for initiating quick laughs, it’s the cast’s comic timing that really had me crying laughing, from Phoebe Ellabani’s bizarre dance as Tinkerbell, Katy Daghorn’s overacting and Romayne Andrews’ headphoned Dennis, repeating everything from his cued lines to radio broadcasts and even an off-stage break-up.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is a hilarious fantasy of theatre’s worst excesses, with petty rivalries, artistic pretentiousness, overacting and Peter and Wendy’s back-stage shenanigans all ‘accidentally’ exposed to us by the wrong backing tapes being played.
A huge congratulations to the creative team of this show as the real director of ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’, Adam Meggido, stages everything exquisitely, creating the chaotic atmosphere that distracts us from the obvious technical skill and intricacy necessary in order to make everything break down so seamlessly and hilariously. Also Simon Scullion’s set which seems to have a life entirely of its own, is truly spectacular as it literally falls apart bit by bit as the show progresses. The highlight of my evening was most definitely when the rotation of this magnificent set was wildly out of control.
All in all this show is triumphant in containing every ingredient for a perfect night at the theatre for all ages, as even the very young members of tonight’s audience could be seen hysterically laughing (completely missing the adult humour but laughing at the sheer stupidity of it all). In the season of panto overload this is one show I can’t recommend enough to go and see…….oh yes I can…..oh no I can’t!
For more information on the UK tour go to peterpangoeswronglive.com
Reviewer - Victoria Wilmot
on - 3/12/19
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