Peter Pan review

In this pantomime version of the JM Barrie classic, there’s very little time spent in the nursery, and even less flying. Directors Joe Pasquale and James Desmond make up for this with some well-orchestrated scene changes and Paul Domaine’s equally dynamic dance routines to, among other numbers, possibly the most popular tune of this season: Dua Lipa’s Dance the Night.

Leading on the laughs is veteran comedian Pasquale as Smee. Pasquale’s line of humour borders on lavatorial much of the time, but it’s inoffensive and hugely popular with the punters. It also doesn’t really impede on the thrust of Alan McHugh’s script, which cherry-picks the highlights of Barrie’s story, but fails to deliver any satisfactory conclusion.

Pasquale’s partner-in-comedy is David Robbins as Smee’s long-suffering mother. Robbins gets to wear a series of fabulous frocks, and the two work well as a double act. Pasquale, though, has a lot more fun tormenting TV legal eagle Rob Rinder’s elaborate Captain Hook, and McHugh has worked enough law-related puns into the script to make it work. Rinder, although sporting a strangely glowing bronzer, makes a suitably haughty Hook and handles the booing crowds with confidence.

If it’s all a bit panto-by-numbers, Morgan Jackson as Peter and Michelle Francis as Wendy are both charismatic performers with great singing voices. Francis particularly makes her mark with a roof-raising ballad showcased between two overfamiliar comedy routines. Otherwise, they don’t get a huge amount to do – but at least the directors give them a moment to shine.