PETER PAN: Palace Theatre Mansfield till 7 Jan

Mansfield

PETER PAN
by Tom Bright new material and adaptation by Maurice Lane

Palace Theatre To 7 January 2006 Mon-Sat various dates 10am, 2pm (every day), 7pm. No performance 25 Dec, 1 Jan
BSL Signed 16 Dec 7pm, 17 Dec 2pm
Runs 2hr 35min One interval

TICKETS: 01623 633133
palacetheatre@mansfield.gov.uk
Review: Alan Geary: 6 December 2005

Not so much traditional panto as a famous Christmas play; nevertheless it’s outstanding fun for people of all ages.
A huge, and hugely-talented, cast, some splendid comic acting, lavish costumes, visually exciting sets of London, the pirate ship, the lost boys’ hideout, and much more, make this show outstanding fun for all ages.

It’s not straight-down-the-line pantomime but rather a Christmas play with, if you want to think about it, a psychologically interesting dark underside. It lacks a Dame, Fairy-Godmother or a Buttons yet has more centres of interest than the traditional panto.

Besides the predictable Peter Pan puns, there’s some excellent patter between a very funny, very Welsh Richard Elis, as the incompetent Smee, and Gary Turner, who excels as the villainous Captain Hook. In the matinee we attended, their lines, which included some sparkling innuendo, were probably - and wisely - toned down; some were drowned in applause.

Turner also does the pompous Mr Darling. Carli Norris, incidentally his real-life wife, makes a very motherly and appealing Mrs Darling and, clad in a becoming dress which reminds one of Mae West, a ravishing Mermaid.

Kim Harvey plays Peter Pan with tremendous verve and there are some genuinely accomplished performances from the host of children, especially Daniel Rainford and Evan Mason [at alternate performances] as John and Michael. In the tricky role of almost grown-up Wendy, Zara Warren is a delight; so is Casey-Lee Jolleys as a jealous Tinkerbell on roller-skates.

It hardly matters that the song and dance isn’t always of the highest quality: it’s highly watchable. At times some of the lyrics lose the battle of volume with over-loud drums, but music and sound effects add a lot to the production.

The inclusion of the Red Indian band is not only refreshingly non-PC: when Tiger Lily [Tara-Louise Zammit], the chief’s beautiful daughter, is captured it’s an unmissable opportunity for Hook’s best gag - ‘An Indian take-away’.

A major highlight is the hilarious display of gymnastics the obliging pirates put on for Captain Hook’s birthday. Most of the pirates are trained gymnasts, and it shows.

(We hit lucky on the sweet front this year: the first bag landed in my companion’s lap but she sportingly threw it to some proper children further back.)

Captain Hook/Mr Darling: Gary Turner
Tinkerbell: Casey-Lee Jolleys
Smee: Richard Elis
Mrs Darling/Mermaid: Carli Norris
Peter Pan: Kim Harvey
Tiger Lily: Tara-Louise Zammit
Wendy: Zara Warren
The Nitwits: Paul Gurney, Nicholas Lewis and Adam Salter
Principal Swing: Kate Alexander
John: Joseph Lamb/Daniel Rainford
Michael: Evan Mason/Danny Gammond
Nana the Dog: Nicola Lakin
People of Neverland: Danielle Pitchford, Samantha Mallinder, Jay-Lucy Tomlinson, Emma Clarke, Nicola Lakin and Amy Lisa Burgess
Lost Boys & Children from: Dancemania, Academy of Dance and Expressions

Director: Maurice Lane
Lighting: Dai Evans
Sound: Mike Savage
Musical Director: Martyn St James
Choreographer: Kathy Blyth-Jenkins

2005-12-08 00:19:48