In Sarah Punshon’s script, the original 1904 play had mostly been thrown out and just the bare bones of the story and characters retained and moved to the modern day. A group of fairies in pastel tracksuits with embroidered glitter wings began relating the story to each other, and then introduced the Darling family. Wendy was now an early adolescent in pyjamas, glued to her mobile phone. Jack and Mikey were her little brothers in onesies. Mrs Darling was now a harried single mother in a dressing gown, fretting about her ex-husband and his new partner “Fishface” who weren’t on stage. Then Peter Pan came to visit, and took Wendy to Neverland before she could grow up much more.
The Assistant Reviewer didn’t already know the story, and was at times a bit bewildered as to what was going on. But he got the magical island part, and was especially taken with the Lost Boys, who ran around like anarchic Cub Scouts in green fatigues and with bows and arrows – I think they were living his dream lifestyle. He very much enjoyed the pirates, especially as Captain Hook was so scary the two-year-old in the next row burst into tears. He loved the flickering little golden light that was Tinkerbell in miniature form. And he clapped furiously after every high-energy pop-infused musical number.
Five actors played all the characters between them, beginning with Matthew Heywood as Peter Pan. (And a fairy. And a pirate.) Heywood caught perfectly the boy caught just between childhood and adolescence who refuses to mature any further. Very energetic and athletic, he bounded all around the stage and through the air (with an aerial circus sling), and had a number of fight scenes involving a green plastic light-sabre. As you do.
Purvi Parmar (also a fairy and a pirate) took Wendy well and truly into the modern day. Brought to the island to tell stories to the Lost Boys, she was soon running around in fatigues with them, helping in rescue missions, and finally despatching Captain Hook to the crocodile single-handed. Parmar was a tough action heroine, but also brought warmth and caring to her performance – and a bit of gritty teenage attitude.
Amy Drake ruled the stage as Captain Hook. (And a fairy, a Lost Boy, and Mrs Darling.) When not terrifying toddlers, she was browbeating pirates, poisoning cakes, kidnapping Lost Boys, and getting the audience to do crowd waves to power the pirate ship. No villain could have been more awful.
Robert Jackson helped in this as pirate-second-in-command Smee (and a fairy, a Lost Boy, and little brother Jack.) Grumpy grovelling was his speciality.
Jason Patel pretty much stole the show as both Tinkerbell and the kidnap victim Tootles. (Also a pirate, and little brother Mikey.) Tinkerbell alternated between miniature size as a little golden light, and full size as a strutting catwalk fairy with a desire for attention. But as Lost Boy Tootles, Patel was also the vulnerable child who really just wanted to be cuddled. This led to the Assistant Reviewer climbing onto my lap for a cuddle of his own. It was rather moving.
Lotte Wakeham’s direction was fast-paced and dynamic, with a lot of brightness and entertainment value. A lovely Christmas show, and introduction to theatre for children.
Reviewer - Thalia Terpsichore
on - 2.12.21
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