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Peter Pan

Published Monday 3 December 2007 at 15:00 by James Green

Peter Pan is not the most popular pantomime on the block, and while the boy who never grows old has mastered the art of flying across stage, the show lacks the magic of Cinders and other competitors.

However, with the aid of quality costumes, appealing sets and technical effects, Bromley makes a commendable production of a script which is always going to be lightweight musically.

First, a hearty round of applause for Paul Michael Glaser, once Hutch’s sidekick Starsky in the television series, playing Captain Hook. He deserves a big hand as this is his panto debut and there is not a hint of an American accent to be heard. No doubt helped by Derek Nicholls’ direction, Glaser could be one of us Brits and is completely at ease with the demands of our seasonal nonsense - he can certainly return Stateside pleased with his professional contribution.

Even more thanks are due to comedy actor Andy Ford, who is a vital link in proceedings as idiot pirate Smee. He may not be skipper but he is in total command of the stage.

His kids-on-stage scene is a classic and, apart from a routine debunking female singing groups, he tries to supply much of the traditional panto business.

Nineteen-year-old Joe Tracini sings superbly as Peter Pan, but tries so hard that his hand-on-hips priggish and affected approach grate at times. He is not the most obvious of heroes. Mrs Darling (Rebecca Seale), Samantha Giffard’s Wendy, their massive dog, Nana (Michael Sewell), the knock-about pirates, the Indians and the lost Boys of Neverland, complete the cast.

Many aspects of this production deserve commendation but one can’t help wondering whether the children in the audience may have missed the more traditional nonsense.

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