To turn Peter Pan from the classic J M Barrie story into a successful pantomime takes a creative genius, as most of the traditional pantomime elements are missing from the original tale. There is no role for a pantomime dame. How do you add the, ever popular, ghost scene? What about the slapstick comedy?
Luckily the Devonshire Park Theatre has, as writer and director, the supremely talented Chris Jordan who, somehow, manages to shoehorn a brand new character into the story, create an opportunity to include that ghost scene and uses two “steetomedy” dance stars – together with a very skilled comedian – to add in the slapstick and, as if by fairy magic, he offers all that is required, and more, to satisfy the, full to capacity, pantomime audience.
This, brand new, production starts off with a full cast scene in the streets of London where, in a skilful display of musical creativity, we hear some of the most popular hits from today mixed in with music hall favourites like The Lambeth Walk and My Old Man (Said Follow the Van), written nearly 100 years ago.
Ewan Goddard, as Peter Pan, is the first character to fly across the stage but he soon has Wendy (Ashleigh Drew) together with her brothers Michael and John, up there with him as they leave London far behind and, through a beautiful starry night sky, they fly off for adventure in Neverland.
Tinkerbell, played, on roller skates, by West End actress, Kimmi Richards, seems to have mellowed somewhat for this production and, although she delivers a few wickedly mean one-liners, is a much more likeable character.
The pirates of Neverland are lead by Captain Hook, Coronation Street’s super villain Brian Capron, with Pirate Swash and Pirate Buckle (Britain’s Got Talent street dancing runners up, Twist and Pulse) and the show’s dancers making up his crew. Capron makes a good Hook, but could do with piling on the “nasty” as, even at his worst, the audience are not very forthcoming with their “boo”s.
Ashley Glazebrook and Glen Murphy, aka Twist and Pulse, are a fantastic addition to the cast as, together with their superb dancing abilities, they get to show off their natural flair for comedy, and good singing voices too. Their showcase dance number in act two is one of the many highlights of the show.
The dynamic duo of award winning comedian, Tucker, and one of the countries leading pantomime dames, Martyn Knight, take on the roles of Mister Smee, and his Mother, Mrs Smee and, as usual, they simply own the stage. Their anarchic style and apparent disregard for the script always help to make the Eastbourne pantomime the tremendous success that it is and, although cast this year as “baddies”, they still get the loudest cheers and applause.
I always like to leave the star of the show to the end in my reviews and, this is no exception for the stars of this year’s show are the creative and technical teams behind the production. Peter Pan is, quite simply, the most technically complex pantomime that Eastbourne Theatres have ever produced. They take the capabilities and constraints of the Devonshire Park Theatre and push them to their very limits including, this year, using the orchestra pit to house dancing water fountains and a “Mermaid Lagoon” and shifting the band into the stalls and circle boxes to maximise the room available.
So step forward Sarah Travis and the Band, Lighting Designers – Douglas Morgan and Simon Hine, Sound Designers – Clement Rawling and Paul Delaney, Wardrobe Queen – Shelley Claridge and her team, Choreographer – Sam Spencer-Lane, the entire Production and Stage Management team and, Writer and Director, Chris Jordan – and take your, well deserved, bows.
You still have time to put tickets for Peter Pan on your Christmas list, or you could just call the box office, but do yourself a festive favour and get some tickets now. This high flying, street dancing, swashbuckling show is not to be missed!
***** Five Stars
