REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
The New Adventures of Peter Pan
Mercury Theatre
Balkern Gate - Colchester
Wed 27 Nov 2024
Sun 19 Jan 2025
It’s an awfully big adventure
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
The New Adventures of Peter Pan
Mercury Theatre
Balkern Gate - Colchester
Wed 27 Nov 2024
Sun 19 Jan 2025
It’s an awfully big adventure
It is thirty years since the Darling children visited Never Never Land. Peter Pan is now in charge and a crocodile ate Captain Hook years ago. Life moves on. Peter is bored because he has no enemy to fight, then suddenly Captain Hook reappears, regurgitated from the crocodile’s jaws and now he wants revenge.
The Mercury Theatre’s panto is Peter Pan, but not as we know it. It is a different take on the old James Barrie story of Never Never Land and the lost boys. Now Hook has reappeared, Peter is in danger and Tinkerbell who acts as the story’s narrator, has to find Wendy. However, Wendy is long gone and her granddaughter also called Wendy is being sent off as an evacuee to Colchester as it is wartime. This is the cue for the adventure to begin.
A packed audience of schoolchildren are soon singing along to the Wellerman sea shanty before the show begins. The lights go up and we are treated to an impressive, breath taking luminosity. The lighting and sound technology is amazing and we are taken aback by the psychedelic set. All the costumes are over the top and brightly coloured, and it is a real extravaganza.
As the show begins Tinkerbell, (Sasha Latoya) tells the original story, so that anyone not knowing about Peter Pan and the lost boys is brought up to date.
The Mercury Theatre’s panto is Peter Pan, but not as we know it. It is a different take on the old James Barrie story of Never Never Land and the lost boys. Now Hook has reappeared, Peter is in danger and Tinkerbell who acts as the story’s narrator, has to find Wendy. However, Wendy is long gone and her granddaughter also called Wendy is being sent off as an evacuee to Colchester as it is wartime. This is the cue for the adventure to begin.
A packed audience of schoolchildren are soon singing along to the Wellerman sea shanty before the show begins. The lights go up and we are treated to an impressive, breath taking luminosity. The lighting and sound technology is amazing and we are taken aback by the psychedelic set. All the costumes are over the top and brightly coloured, and it is a real extravaganza.
As the show begins Tinkerbell, (Sasha Latoya) tells the original story, so that anyone not knowing about Peter Pan and the lost boys is brought up to date.
Soon we are introduced to the sailor Smee (Dale Supervill) who is now Captain of the Jolly Roger ship, and his pantomime dame mother, played by Antony Stuart-Hicks. They play the comedy roles, but if the truth be told, the Dame's somewhat smutty one-liners fell very flat for an audience of schoolchildren. However, some adults sitting behind me found them very funny.
The production has some excellent song and dance routines, under the musical direction of Joshua Tarrier with choreography by Rosie Mather. The youngsters playing the lost boys and, nowadays, girls, throw themselves wholeheartedly into the routines.
Peter Pan (David Breeds) gives a fetching performance as our hero, and the song Hold my Hand sang with Wendy (Alexandra Barredo) was very endearing.
The star of the show is undoubtedly Captain Hook who gives a strong vocal performance, particularly for his rendition of Rise Like A Phoenix. I was surprised when they announced at the end that he was the understudy, Nick Brittain, as the original actor was indisposed. His opening number for the second half, Hoist the Colours/Troublemaker, with the dancing Zombie Pirates, was very entertaining. He gives a barnstorming performance and the children loved to hiss and boo at him.
The audience enjoyed the decorating slapstick episode and the silly song routine for the Twelve Days of Shipwreck. Of course, Peter Pan wouldn’t be a panto without some flying and we are given an up, up, and away show of Peter and even Captain Hook flying over the rafters.
It is a shame there aren't more singalongs that the children could join in. However, there is a ‘poo’ song for them to enjoy at the end.
Unfortunately, a technical hitch meant the lyrics didn’t come up for them, but everyone still managed to join in.
It’s something of a gamble to move away from the traditional pantomime tale and present an update or a sequel but this high tech version of The New Adventures of Peter Pan really pulled it off.
Review Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The production has some excellent song and dance routines, under the musical direction of Joshua Tarrier with choreography by Rosie Mather. The youngsters playing the lost boys and, nowadays, girls, throw themselves wholeheartedly into the routines.
Peter Pan (David Breeds) gives a fetching performance as our hero, and the song Hold my Hand sang with Wendy (Alexandra Barredo) was very endearing.
The star of the show is undoubtedly Captain Hook who gives a strong vocal performance, particularly for his rendition of Rise Like A Phoenix. I was surprised when they announced at the end that he was the understudy, Nick Brittain, as the original actor was indisposed. His opening number for the second half, Hoist the Colours/Troublemaker, with the dancing Zombie Pirates, was very entertaining. He gives a barnstorming performance and the children loved to hiss and boo at him.
The audience enjoyed the decorating slapstick episode and the silly song routine for the Twelve Days of Shipwreck. Of course, Peter Pan wouldn’t be a panto without some flying and we are given an up, up, and away show of Peter and even Captain Hook flying over the rafters.
It is a shame there aren't more singalongs that the children could join in. However, there is a ‘poo’ song for them to enjoy at the end.
Unfortunately, a technical hitch meant the lyrics didn’t come up for them, but everyone still managed to join in.
It’s something of a gamble to move away from the traditional pantomime tale and present an update or a sequel but this high tech version of The New Adventures of Peter Pan really pulled it off.
Review Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The show continues until 19 January 2025.
School performances are: -
Tue 3 Dec, 10.15am; Wed 4 Dec, 10.15am & 2pm; Thu 5 Dec, 10.15am (also a Relaxed Performance) & 2pm; Fri 6 Dec, 12pm; Tue 10 Dec, 10.15am; Wed 11 Dec, 10.15am & 2pm; Thu 12 Dec, 10.15am & 2pm; Fri 13 Dec, 12pm; Tue 17 Dec, 10.15am; Wed 18 Dec, 10.15am & 2pm.
Adult Performances:-
If you want to leave the kids at home and double the laughter, these performances will be in January 2025 on: Tue 14 Jan, 7.30pm; Wed 8 Jan, 7.30pm; Thu 9 Jan, 7.30pm; Fri 10 Jan, 7.30pm; Tue 14 Jan, 7.30pm; Wed 15 Jan, 7.30pm; Thu 16 Jan, 7.30pm and Fri 17 Jan, 7.30pm (also BSL interpreted)
Tickets on sale now Box Office: 01206 573948
Duration:
Approx. 2hrs 25mins, incl. interval
Price:
£10.00 - £42.00
(inc. £2 ticket levy)
https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/event/the-new-adventures-of-peter-pan/
School performances are: -
Tue 3 Dec, 10.15am; Wed 4 Dec, 10.15am & 2pm; Thu 5 Dec, 10.15am (also a Relaxed Performance) & 2pm; Fri 6 Dec, 12pm; Tue 10 Dec, 10.15am; Wed 11 Dec, 10.15am & 2pm; Thu 12 Dec, 10.15am & 2pm; Fri 13 Dec, 12pm; Tue 17 Dec, 10.15am; Wed 18 Dec, 10.15am & 2pm.
Adult Performances:-
If you want to leave the kids at home and double the laughter, these performances will be in January 2025 on: Tue 14 Jan, 7.30pm; Wed 8 Jan, 7.30pm; Thu 9 Jan, 7.30pm; Fri 10 Jan, 7.30pm; Tue 14 Jan, 7.30pm; Wed 15 Jan, 7.30pm; Thu 16 Jan, 7.30pm and Fri 17 Jan, 7.30pm (also BSL interpreted)
Tickets on sale now Box Office: 01206 573948
Duration:
Approx. 2hrs 25mins, incl. interval
Price:
£10.00 - £42.00
(inc. £2 ticket levy)
https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/event/the-new-adventures-of-peter-pan/
