***
THIS venue's version of Peter Pan is a mixed adventure.
Kicking off promisingly, belief fades when the story necessitates flying – puppets on a stick fail to trigger me aloft despite lighting back-up by Beverley Grover, who struggles herself against a bland set.
When shoe-string resources are available, imagination is compulsory and this falls short from director Graham Hubbard.
His direction of the cast on the other hand, and they themselves, rise admirably from these shortcomings and bring out the comedy and nostalgia of Stiles & Drewe’s musical adaption.
A versatile bunch, Thomas Hewitt is a dear as Mr Darling and a dastardly coward as Captain Hook while Laurel Dougall’s Mrs Darling, kind and gentle, doubles up as the nutty drum-beater Tiger Lily. Gina Cameron excels as the Storyteller. There is a laser light for Tinker Bell.
The jolly pirates are headed by an adorable Smee in Sam Sugarman and the lost boys look curiously clean.
Matthew Chase’s elastically leaping Peter Pan is disarmingly touching and Natalie Sexton’s Wendy is pretty perfect.
The catchy soundtrack is fabulously played by Mark Hodge, keyboards, and Jono Helsby, percussion.
Louise Flind
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