Merrily rocking n rolling along.

Hugh Homan, The Stage

16 December 2009

The problem with Amanda Noar's production (for Paul Holman Associates and the Borough of Broxbourne at the Civic Hall) is that is can't decide whether it's a play for children with music or a pantomime.

We miss the style of Barrie's Edwardian original and the panto elements seem tacked on, but what we experience is a rather enjoyable romp. There's flying, there's audience participation, there's silly business and the matinee audience of school children and their teachers which I attended seemed to approve.

Blake Scott is an elfin Peter but Laura Johnson's Wendy (repeating her role from 2005) is here not quite right. She seems too mature, lacking that just grown up wonder at the adventure she embarks on. Smee and Starkey (Matt Blossom and Tim Eagle) are a funny pair of matelots (and filled effectively for 15 minutes while we waited for a broken down coach to arrive). Carys Gray is a mumsy Mrs Darling and music hall Mermaid called Minnie. Both have powerful voices. And Christopher Villiers enunciates clearly as an Edwardian paterfamilias should and wields a nasty golden hook as Captain. The kids loved to hate him.

The local dancers and juvenilles from the Vale Academy provide their usual excellent support. The costumes are colourful, the settings sparkly and the music from Gavin Whitworth and Peter Dawson keeps the whole thing merrily rocking n rolling along.