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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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Salute a slapstick survivor Peter Pan Limelight
The *** WELL done! Hurray! Believe it or not, I
have found a pantomime that is not afraid of resurrecting the seemingly
lost art of slapstick. It's a cake-making episode and it doesn't last
very long – but it's long enough for Smee the Bosun (Andy Bunn) to have
half a dozen eggs cracked on his gleaming and uncomplaining pate. And these are not the only encouraging moments
that have been dreamed up by writer-director-choreographer Jane Bennett
– who hides with unnecessary coyness behind the programme
nom-de-plume of Ida Rathernotav. This is a Peter Panto that brims with charm and
fun. It has a company that is young, lively and talented – with a
singing voice of particular distinction provided by Tinkerbell, courtesy
of the brisk and businesslike Gabrielle Sabel – accurately described in
the course of the action as a feisty fairy. It is also a show that takes advantage of the
flying facilities offered by The Rose – and even has a Peter-and-Wendy
airborne duet. Moreover, the company comes off the stage and uses water
pistols to good effect – twice. In other words, everybody gets to feel
involved. On the other hand, the players themselves sometimes got too involved on the first night. Anyone sitting towards the end of a row, stage left, was able at various moments to see Tinkerbell, Wendy and the Crocodile waiting in the wings, stage right. And who's to say that the patrons at the other
end of a row could not contemplate a sign of things to come on the other
side of the stage? It's a small point, but it needlessly knocks a bit of
shine off a splendid production, which is a shame.
This is a company packed with enthusiasm. Scott Denton's Dame – Leopard Spot Rose, no less – sails galleon-like through the action, in which Michael Neri (Heluff) comes with camp confidence to his responsibilities as resident funnyman, and Andy Bunn is clearly unafraid to cut a crisis in the bud. Here was a first-night Bosun prepared to announce
three times that it was time to bake a cake – and who eventually
prompted the music for which he had been waiting. I found it impossible to decide from the
programme pictures whether Tiger Lily was Holly Gittins or Lauren Mobley
beneath those long black wig tresses – but whoever it was, she came
through with a breezy self-assurance. Sam Wall is similarly confident as Peter Pan, in
a pleasing pairing with Sadie Owen's Wendy, and Darren Richards offers a
Captain Hook who is refreshingly different from the norm, in that he has
a pleasant smile that at times threatens to be surprisingly cherubic. There are pleasing dance routines, one of them on
an Indian reservation, there is an attractive under-the-sea sequence
that includes two five-foot-long fish, and Grace Woodward summons up her
animal instincts on behalf of the Crocodile and Nana, the dog of the
Darling household. There is also an unseen Narrator, whom we don't
get to see, listed as Jackie Nory. I don't believe it, but it's a
delightful thought. John Slim |
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