Fiona Wood and Robbie Scott in Peter Pan and Wendy at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Picture: Fraser Band
Peter Pan and Wendy continues at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre until 23 December 2022.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Only an hour away from JM Barrie’s birthplace at Kirriemuir, the theatre in Pitlochry is dressed up as a twinkling, magical place, ringing to the sound of Christmas carols as the audience settles in with an air of anticipation. Particularly so in the youngest folk!
This Christmas show more than meets expectations – it is simply wonderful. The adaptation by Janys Chambers is extremely clever: keeping the central story of Peter Pan and Wendy and stripping out the other side-plots makes for a pacy two hours (including interval) that keeps every child captivated throughout.
The enduring spirit of the Peter Pan story has been nurtured and carefully crafted to play to the two audiences: the young and the grown up. The whole notion of Lost Boys living in Neverland with endless adventure and fun belies the truth of the babies ‘lost’ to their parents. Indeed, the layers of interpretation that are woven into elements of costume and set design by Anna Orton subtly reinforce the child/grown up view, particularly in the massive hammock festooned in cuddly toys and bunting that becomes the Lost Boys’ bed.
The traditional dual role of Mr Darling and Captain Hook is taken on here by Colin McCredie with a somewhat stern Mr Darling and a Hook who revels in his role as the villain. Mrs Darling (Deirdre Davis) has a poignant quality that compares brilliantly with her hilarious portrayal of Hook’s sidekick, Smee. Spot on, grown ups.
To the children – Fiona Wood is a daring tomboy of a Wendy, enthusiastically embracing the adventures to be had. There is a genuine connection between Wendy and Peter (Robbie Scott) that plays very well and the clarity that Wendy is seen as the teller of tales that makes her the ideal ‘mother’ for the Lost Boys of Neverland. Peter Pan himself covers both text and stage at breakneck speed with a precision and a focus that draws in both the audience and the other characters onstage. Wendy’s siblings, John and Michael (Ruairidh McDonald and Stephanie Payne) have super rapport all round and seem very accepting that Peter can never remember their names.
The Tinkerbell here is a staggeringly energetic and poised Patricia Panther – like a gigantic glitterball with gossamer wings, here is a Tinkerbell borrowed from the 21st century with cheek and charm in equal measure. The hardworking ensemble cast of Euan Bennet and Delme Thomas are thoroughly entertaining as the Lost Boys and Pirates in Hook’s crew. Laugh out loud moments that build in their silliness sweep the plot along with plenty of laughs.
The music used for atmosphere and in song is a glorious blend of the main melodies with sea shanty/tweed mashing rhythms and counterpoint in the voices. If anything, there are a couple of song opportunities missed as the quality of the singing is rather special, it would have been nice to have a couple more opportunities to hear and enjoy it.
One of the admirable qualities is that there are no mics taped onto characters’ faces as their voices are more than up to the task of filling the space. The auditorium is often used as an entrance for the cast – clearly thrilling the audience. Ben Occhipinti’s direction keeps the pace moving with clear storytelling and an awareness of how to enchant an audience. Marvellous use of space and oh, the flying. Magical moment!
Get a ticket if you can – the perfect start to the festive season. And keep believing in fairies.
Fiona Orr
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