Peter Pan

Published Friday 14 December 2007 at 13:15 by John Hannam

There is much to enjoy in this slick production that is fast, full of fun, very energetic and just the right length, with one or two clever innovations. Nana the Dog comes close to stealing the show with an amazing performance but, sadly, whoever is inside remains a mystery.

During the interval two of the pirates come into the audience to exchange banter with the youngsters, which really works. In fact, during this spot they make more of an impact than at any other time in the show. David Rubin is not evil enough as Hook, particularly in the early stages, and this does lessen the impact. The several hundred children in attendace took a while to get into full voice. However, when doubling roles as Mr Darling, Rubin adds much to the part by talking to the audience.

Dana Ferguson makes such an impact as Wendy that her contribution is immense. James Daley is perfect as Peter Pan - having a male in the lead role is so much more realistic and believable for the youngsters. Andy Spiegel is very effective as Smee and is at the hub of most of the fun.

The lagoon scene is a triumph and one of the most memorable moments of this well-produced show, which also includes a well-directed sword-fight scene. The young local children who play John, Michael and the Lost Boys contribute much to the overall success of the show. There are also several excellent songs, written by Simon Slater.