Peter Pan Review

Richmond Theatre – until Sunday 6 January 2019

Reviewed by Sabrina Fancy

4****

In the run up to Christmas, there is an exciting array of family friendly pantos with big named stars playing the lead.

Peter Pan is no exception with multi award winning actor of stage and screen Robert Lindsay making his pantomime debut in the role of Captain Hook! As a BAFTA and Olivier award one can see from his performance how he collected these accolades.

The panto genre seems to suit Lindsay for audiences young and old. He plays the villain effortlessly, eliciting boos from the crowd whenever he came on stage and captivated audiences.

Other cast members include Jon Clegg from Britain’s got Talent playing the role of Captain Hook’s sidekick Smee, whose rendition of Baby Shark was very well received. Rachel Stanley (Les Misérables) plays Mimi the Mermaid. Harry Francis (The Book of Mormon) plays the role of Pan, much of which is flying thru the air! With his pleasant voice, I would have enjoyed more of his vocals.

Keisha Marina Attwell who plays Tiger Lilly is frustratingly under- utilised. Her powerful voice was showcased in her rendition of the song No Place I’d rather Be and her dance moves were also riveting- she really struts her stuff and makes the most of the small part she plays and I was sorry to not see more of her.

The costumes and set design and intricate and impressive, with a giant crocodile that leads to the demise of Captain Hook. I also liked how the script incorporated modern cultural references into JM Barrie’s classic tale, as there were several references to the Brexit shambles and Theresa May which was culturally relevant and amusing.

Unfortunately, the rest of show cannot compare to the captivating Lindsay. While the children in the audience were entertained, there seemed to be a lack of humour, songs and cheekiness that one would hope for in a panto to appeal to an adult audience. However it’s worth seeing this for Robert Lindsay alone who stole the show-he really has me hooked!

The Richmond theatre itself is beautiful and was named one of the Top 10 best theatres to visit in your Life time. It is located 5 minutes from the station with plenty of restaurants and bars in the area.