Peter Pan - A Musical Adventure, Birmingham Rep till 19th January 08
Birmingham
Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure: based on J.M. Barrie’s original play
Music by George Stiles: Lyrics by Anthony Drewe: Book by Willis Hall
Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company
Tkts: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Runs: 2 h 20m: one interval: till 19th January 08.
Start: varies
Review: Jan Pick, 4.12.07
Crocodile Tears!
If you think you have seen enough productions of Peter Pan you should make an effort to see one more! Head to the Birmingham Rep this Christmas where their new version of J.M. Barrie’s popular play – Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure. With music composed by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, Rachel Kavanaugh and her team have come up with a winner for both adults and children. Among the delights of the evening – not least of which is a truly wonderful crocodile – special mention has to be made of Captain Hook, played with sinister, melancholic relish by David Birrell, and his pirate gang, who gave great performances all round.
Peter Caulfield’s rebellious, spiky and occasionally sulky Peter Pan gives us an insight into his deeper psyche – his desperate desire never to grow up – or old. As the spirit of freedom and youth he is bound to remain in the childhood world of Neverland, a place full of imagination and adventure, with his friends, Tinkerbell, here a flitting tiny ball of red light with an infectious chuckle, and Nikki Shaw’s energetically acrobatic Tiger Lily.
As the Darling children, Jeremy Legat’s John, and Connor Doyle’s Michael are convincingly natural, managing to avoid the mawkishness often associated with them, and Gina Beck makes an attractive Wendy, who eventually recognises the need to grow and mature as part of the process of living.
Neverland is created with great imagination, the flying sequences are excellent and music, choreography, lighting and design combine to make a truly magical world come to life before our eyes. The cast work as a true ensemble, moving between fact and fantasy, expertly and sensitively linked together by the storyteller, Gay Soper.
There are scary bits and funny bits, sad bits and happy bits, and an unexpected twist at the end. With memorable music and songs to create just the right mood and atmosphere, this is everything a Christmas show should be.
In fact the only unhappy person at the end of the show was a small child, devastated at not being able to see that wonderful crocodile one more time!
Cast:
Storyteller: Gay Soper
The Darling Family
Mr Darling: David Birrell
Mrs Darling: Julie-Alanah Brighten
Wendy: Gina Beck
John: Jeremy Legat
Michael: Connor Doyle
Thomas Goodall
Nana the Dog: Barnaby Thompson
Liza the Maid: Nikki Shaw
Peter Pan: Peter Caulfield
The Lost Boys
Tootles: Thomas Aldridge
Slightly: Tim Edwards
Curly: Craig Perry
Nibs: Simon Schofield
Twin: Andrew Bowness
Twin: Barnaby Thompson
The Pirates
Captain James Hook: David Birrell
Smee: Gerard Carey
Gentleman Starkey: Christopher Colley
Cecco: Greg Barnett
Cookson: Andrew Hutchings
Bill Jukes: George Daniel Long
Mullins: Joe Speare
Tiger Lily: Nikki Shaw
Voice of Tinkerbell: Fiona Dunn
All other parts played by members of the company.
Director: Rachel Kavanaugh
Designer: Peter McKintosh
Musical Director: Stephen Ridley
Choreographer: Jenny Arnold
Lighting Designer: Paul Pyant
Sound Designer: Gregory Clarke
Orchestration: David Shrubsole
Illusionist: Tom Silburn
Assistant Director: Laura Baggaley
Flying by: Freedom Flying
Fight Director: Terry King
Company Stage manager: Katie Vine
DSM: Anne Baxter
ASM: Sarah Caselton-Smith
The Band
Cello: Louise Dixon
Flutes/Sax: Paul Raybould
Guitars: Alec Coburn
Bass: Rory Dempsey
Percussion: Dominic Sales
Keyboards: Colin King
MD/Keyboards: Stephen Ridley
By arrangement with the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
2007-12-07 09:25:54