first class flight to the fun stuff with Eden Court panto Peter Pan
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REVIEW:
Peter Pan
Eden Court
4 stars
Time flies when you’re having loads of fun hanging out with Peter Pan at Eden Court panto.
Take-off is instant and with its pretty perfect package of jokes, songs, nonsense and clear storytelling, it's a happy landing just as the farewell streamers explode over a satisfied crowd.
Though it’s not based on one of the best-known fairy tales, Scottish writer J M Barrie’s beloved story has become a universal Disney screen favourite.
And Peter Pan is every bit as magical as any of the more traditional pantos with its escape to Neverland, the land of pirates, mermaids and native Americans, here called Rainbows. What grown-up wouldn't dream of escaping there, faced with the fuel bills and news of war ...
Secondly, the really big bonus with Peter Pan is the flying. And with this Imagine Theatre production, we don’t have too long to wait after the curtain opens on the Darlings’ bedroom to catch Peter dropping in with his nippy-sweetie fairy pal Tinkerbell (Laura Blair).
The flying is more like floating for the Darling family – the children Wendy, Michael and John.
But Peter Pan (Reece Duncan) shows off plenty of swooping and mid-air acrobatic somersaulting as the gang head to Neverland to take on evil Captain Hook.
By then the potent chemistry brewed over six years of Eden Court panto seasons was bubbling away nicely again between comedy dream team Steven Wren – playing dame Moira McSmee – and Ross Allan – as sidekick Starkey.
Just about that time we were starting to say OUR panto lines like professionals…
As the Darlings’ nanny, Moira McSmee (Wren) groaned to us she was worn out looking after the children – ‘I’m too old for this!’ we all shouted bang on cue right back, ‘On no you’re not!’.
And by then the relentless joke count had begun too.
“My name’s Starkey – I was going to be called Sparky but I’m not that bright!” Ross Allan grinned.
And as well as the hail of superbly cheesy jokes on the run from the nearest cracker, there were some truly grade A groansome ones, like: What do you call eight legs of venison for £70? Too dear! (geddit?).
The product placement (the first D & E Coaches plug just seven minutes in – loved the boat, though…) meant we were in no danger of forgetting where we were. From mentions of local businesses such as Maggie Blyth’s and Johnny Foxes, to drop-ins of places such as Lossiemouth, Beauly and Inverness, the scriptwriters also didn’t forget local politicians including Douglas Ross – even namechecking Westminster’s so-recently former prime minister Liz Truss!
As for the songs, there were some belters and bangers this year – most with their own customised words, from Will Young’s Joy and Katy Perry’s Roar, Mrs McSmee’s Copacabana, Dancing In The Streets with the mermaids, to big number Don’t Stop Believing and a chance to love Wendy (Lorenza Michelucci-Dunn) singing Rihanna’s Somebody’s Going To Miss You.
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There were even a couple of the little ‘mistakes’ we all love – a bottle of poison left in the next scene before being spirited away by stage crew – and earlier Mrs McSmee looking down at the musicians in the orchestra pit complaining about a missing sound effect “Not on press night! If that appears in the review …!"
Oops! (hee hee).
Mention should go to the ‘animals’, the loveable St Bernard dog Nana arriving strolling in with her own "Awww!" from the crowd and the much less loveable scary Hook-eating crocodile, who moves like lightning across the stage but thoughtfully crunches the captain to death off it – with a mighty burp.
Reece Duncan as Peter has a lovely singing voice, swashes his buckle brilliantly and is mistaken for Ed Sheeran by Mrs McSmee!
There are tweaks in the traditional story for the times we live in … Peter’s adventurous, free spirit role is also matched for females by Tinkerbell, as is swapping the original story’s Native American heroine Tiger Lily for the more PC perhaps Rainbow (Brianna Jolly).
Though there was sadly no reprise of last year’s best bit, The 12 Days Of Christmas – and, for me, on this year’s community song sheet the words seemed a bit too small to read (or was that this panto veteran's eyes?)!
But the traditional ‘clarty’ bit with Steven and Ross, was a total triumph.
Set on a wildly rocking boat, the scene saw Mrs McSmee and Starkey trying to keep upright while pouring bowls of custard out the portholes and over each other. Even to look at them made you feel seasick – and it was a massive hit with the audience.
It’s lovely to have the buzz of the panto back – especially after Covid forced it to finish early with weeks to go last year.
This time there’s extra pzazz with the return of the junior ensemble for the first time since 2019 – four teams of youngsters sharing out the energetic onstage duties.
And it seemed that at least one future young panto star might have graced the stage among the traditional group of youngsters brought up at the end on Friday to get a treat – this year a Harry Gow goodie bag.
Archie (8), Mela (8) and Hannah-Lee (10) revealed the presents they would like for Christmas – a BMX, an iPad and butter slime. But Amelia (5) stopped Ross Allan in his tracks saying her choice was ‘A guineapig with a hatch for babies to come out’…
A toy, was the explanation, after a loooong pause from Ross.
But Amelia had already discovered the delights of twirling in front of us like a little star and doing what Steven called “the biggest whoosh” to charm the panto crowd.
Maybe we should remember her name …
Peter Pan is on now at Eden Court until Sunday, January 8.
