Review: PETER PAN, Bristol Hippodrome
Photo credit: Mark Smith
Peter Pan is now well established as a panto title and the gold standard was set by the 2018 production at the Birmingham Hippodrome, led initially by the wonderful Jimmy Osmond, and at the Richmond Theatre production with the masterful Robert Lindsay as Hook. Since then, the writing has become more formulaic in a determined effort to reduce the running time to two hours, still leaving time for all the stars’ pantomime business . As a result, the narrative has been stripped back rushing to Neverland in breakneck speed, cutting the story back with Hook meeting his end at end of Act One. At least in this year’s Bristol Hippodrome show, they take the trouble to tailor the comic business to fit the story, even tangentially, and the result is a much more satisfying canter through the tale with some excellent comic breaks.
At the centre, of course, remains Captain Hook played by Sir David Suchet, the award-winning actor in his pantomime debut. From his first appearance when he is wheeled on stage on a pirate throne, he is everything you expect from the character in pantomime. Gleefully evil, he sends himself up in the business, wholeheartedly throwing himself into the fights and comedy. When Hook gets eaten by the pit croc at the end of Act One, you fear he might not return in the second half but thankfully he does to reveal himself as Hercule Hook, the brother and then transforming himself into Hercule Poirot in front of our eyes. He teams up well with the other principals in the traditional pantomime business of the cross-stage tongue twister, here joyously reimagined as “the poisonous pythons in the hissing pit”, the ‘Twelve days of Christmas’ also updated for sea faring props including five rubber rings and the Pirate Drill. It is done with effortless delivery and timing, although he does look slightly out of breath in the Peter Pan fight scenes, or perhaps that is just good acting too!
Opposite him in most of the business is the local favourite Andy Ford as Smee, the West Country comic with a unique sparkly personality that revels in each silly audience interaction. Most of his audience engagement is just daft but the audience warm to him instantly and respond to each entrance. Some of the business is a little weak such as the dance-off with Mimi the Mermaid and the lip sync routine with Mrs Smee; they work and get the laughs, but you will see sharper funnier versions this year elsewhere. However, his innovation in the song sheet is simply splendid with a Peter Pan themed song which gets the children in the audience bobbing up and down at end of each line with a specific action. If we can’t yet get kids back on stage for the song, this is the cleverest alternative to getting them involved and great fun for everybody in the audience. We are sure we will see this innovation elsewhere in the future!
Ceri Dupree plays Mrs Smee, looking absolutely Fab-u-Lous in a succession of very glamorous gowns but really leaving a lasting impression with her outfit in a fishbowl with strategically placed lilies, and in her impression of Cher in the tightest of costumes. She takes female impression to a different level and even joins in with a topical Barbie costume, opposite Ford’s Ken and a saucy Camilla impression! Faye Tozer as Mimi the Mermaid has little to do plot wise with no time for Marauders Rock but leads the singing well with her constant reminders that she was a member of the hit band Steps.
Of course, as is too often the case in these latest versions, the three core roles are rather sidelined and here are played by professional debutants. Hugo Roland is a spritely Pan, Molly Farmer a comely Wendy (although in the performance we saw, she unfortunately failed to fly for technical reasons), and Carly Joan Furlong , a confident Tinkerbell. All three do well in their brief moments centre stage, supported by two clear voiced Darling boys, John and Michael.
This is an immensely entertaining show, balancing the variety acts elements with the narrative telling and integrating both to a successful level to create a very entertaining show that satisfies the full house. It may not reach those Gold Standard productions but for a fast-paced funny show, it makes a very good Christmas night out.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne
Peter Pan plays at Bristol Hippodrome until 31 December, with tickets available here.