REVIEW
☆☆☆✭✭ 3/5
JOE PASQUALE and ROB RINDER STAR IN
PETER PAN
AT THE CLIFFS PAVILION SOUTHEND THIS CHRISTMAS!
Sat 9 Dec – Sun 31 Dec 2023
INTERVIEW WITH THE CAST BELOW!
☆☆☆✭✭ 3/5
JOE PASQUALE and ROB RINDER STAR IN
PETER PAN
AT THE CLIFFS PAVILION SOUTHEND THIS CHRISTMAS!
Sat 9 Dec – Sun 31 Dec 2023
INTERVIEW WITH THE CAST BELOW!
Rob Rinder & Joe Pasquale at the Cliffs Pavilion this December in Peter Pan Photo: Kim Tobin Photography
Peter Pan, billed as the high flying panto adventure, soars into the Cliffs Pavilion this week to begin its three week stay over in Southend. Starring the ever popular Joe Pasquale alongside equally adored (Judge) Rob Rinder who play Smee and Captain Hook respectively, the story of Peter Pan is ever popular and the Cliffs Pavilion audience were buzzing with anticipation on press night.
There’s no mucking about with this Crossroads Pantomines' production; Peter Pan flies into view as the curtain goes up and we are instantly introduced to the Darling family and Tinkerbell in the nursery, who are then whisked away to Neverland, all within the first number.
Once in Neverland we then get to meet Smee who whizzes onto stage atop a toilet - a nod, for those who may have missed it, to Joe Pasquale winning the Masked Singer I’m A Celebrity Special disguised as a toilet, and a big clue as to what the humour of the evening will specialise in. Pasquale is clearly a master of his craft and carries the show fantastically well with his well honed cheeky, slightly risqué, repertoire of comedy. As co-writer and co-director of the show, you can see where his input has been focused and he has made sure that the adults as well as the children are suitably entertained. For those who find toilet humour offensive, probably best to look away now because there is A LOT. There’s also a lot of traditional silliness and slapstick that you just can’t help but giggle at.
Baddies don’t come any badder than Captain Hook and Rob Rinder has certainly had enough experience of reprimanding the lower echelons of society to make a good fist of characterising this hook adorned villain. It must be a nightmare, though, trying to be the straight man (in every sense of the word) when you’re up against someone like Pasquale, who takes every opportunity to try and corpse virtually every member of the cast at some point throughout the show and Rinder, in particuar, is shown no mercy. This, obviously makes for much hilarity and the audience just love it.
Of course every pantomime has to have a dame and Peter Pan is no exception with David Robbins taking on the role of Mrs Smee. Robbins does a remarkable job of looking spectacular in no less than 10 costumes, with some quick changes needed and a collection of some the hugest wigs I’ve ever seen, not least when kitted out in the fabulous Barbie outfit with a bumper of bubbly blonde hair that really goes up to there!
Peter Pan, Wendy and Tinkerbell are all delightfully played by the talented Morgan Jackson, Michelle Francis and Ciara Ford, although the storyline really is all a bit haphazard, so it’s hard to really invest in each character. That said, it’s great to hear them all perform with some lovely vocals, not least from Michelle as Wendy who gets a lovely solo spot at the top of Act 2.
This production of Peter Pan literally flies by, it’s around 2 hours including interval. If you’re expecting a structured storyline, forget it, there’s more humour than heart from this production which lets it down a little, and it also would have been nice to have a few more song and dance numbers from the cast and ensemble.
However, the traditional panto fun is in abundance with a number of skits that have been brilliantly worked by the main cast members. The ‘If I Were Not in Panto…’ song had the audience falling about at the sight of Pasquale in a tutu and little else, getting bashed and bonked (can I say that?) and the tongue-twisting Shirley Shoeshine Shop was a hoot.
One of the highlights of the night was Joe’s 'Small Voice' skit which was as endearing as it was funny. Likewise, it’s always a heart tug moment when the kids get to go up on stage, which can often be a minefield but Joe was truly fantastic with them all. Seeing the children on stage also gives us a gentle reminder of what panto is all about; a chance for families to come together and be entertained at Christmas time. Possibly, it will be the first time that a child will visit a theatre and witness the magic theatre can create. For a light-hearted memorable treat this Christmas, Peter Pan will leave you flying high.
For tickets go to
www.southendtheatres.org.uk.
There’s no mucking about with this Crossroads Pantomines' production; Peter Pan flies into view as the curtain goes up and we are instantly introduced to the Darling family and Tinkerbell in the nursery, who are then whisked away to Neverland, all within the first number.
Once in Neverland we then get to meet Smee who whizzes onto stage atop a toilet - a nod, for those who may have missed it, to Joe Pasquale winning the Masked Singer I’m A Celebrity Special disguised as a toilet, and a big clue as to what the humour of the evening will specialise in. Pasquale is clearly a master of his craft and carries the show fantastically well with his well honed cheeky, slightly risqué, repertoire of comedy. As co-writer and co-director of the show, you can see where his input has been focused and he has made sure that the adults as well as the children are suitably entertained. For those who find toilet humour offensive, probably best to look away now because there is A LOT. There’s also a lot of traditional silliness and slapstick that you just can’t help but giggle at.
Baddies don’t come any badder than Captain Hook and Rob Rinder has certainly had enough experience of reprimanding the lower echelons of society to make a good fist of characterising this hook adorned villain. It must be a nightmare, though, trying to be the straight man (in every sense of the word) when you’re up against someone like Pasquale, who takes every opportunity to try and corpse virtually every member of the cast at some point throughout the show and Rinder, in particuar, is shown no mercy. This, obviously makes for much hilarity and the audience just love it.
Of course every pantomime has to have a dame and Peter Pan is no exception with David Robbins taking on the role of Mrs Smee. Robbins does a remarkable job of looking spectacular in no less than 10 costumes, with some quick changes needed and a collection of some the hugest wigs I’ve ever seen, not least when kitted out in the fabulous Barbie outfit with a bumper of bubbly blonde hair that really goes up to there!
Peter Pan, Wendy and Tinkerbell are all delightfully played by the talented Morgan Jackson, Michelle Francis and Ciara Ford, although the storyline really is all a bit haphazard, so it’s hard to really invest in each character. That said, it’s great to hear them all perform with some lovely vocals, not least from Michelle as Wendy who gets a lovely solo spot at the top of Act 2.
This production of Peter Pan literally flies by, it’s around 2 hours including interval. If you’re expecting a structured storyline, forget it, there’s more humour than heart from this production which lets it down a little, and it also would have been nice to have a few more song and dance numbers from the cast and ensemble.
However, the traditional panto fun is in abundance with a number of skits that have been brilliantly worked by the main cast members. The ‘If I Were Not in Panto…’ song had the audience falling about at the sight of Pasquale in a tutu and little else, getting bashed and bonked (can I say that?) and the tongue-twisting Shirley Shoeshine Shop was a hoot.
One of the highlights of the night was Joe’s 'Small Voice' skit which was as endearing as it was funny. Likewise, it’s always a heart tug moment when the kids get to go up on stage, which can often be a minefield but Joe was truly fantastic with them all. Seeing the children on stage also gives us a gentle reminder of what panto is all about; a chance for families to come together and be entertained at Christmas time. Possibly, it will be the first time that a child will visit a theatre and witness the magic theatre can create. For a light-hearted memorable treat this Christmas, Peter Pan will leave you flying high.
For tickets go to
www.southendtheatres.org.uk.
OUR INTERVIEW WITH JOE PASQUALE
OUR INTERVIEW WITH ROB RINDER
OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE CAST OF PETER PAN
All photos: Kim Tobin Photography
