Sprinkled with producer, Michael Harrison’s, hallmark pizzazz and glitter, Peter Pan explodes on to the stage of the Birmingham Hippodrome with all the traditional elements of British pantomime deftly blended with a beguiling swathe of new and exciting ideas. Of course, we know the story, of course, we know the characters, of course we know what will happen – but do we? One of the joys of pantomime is its endless ability to subvert the expectation of the audience and deliver something with proud aplomb which says, “You didn’t see that coming, did you?” – and in many cases tonight we didn’t!
Another delight of pantomime is catching up with players we see year in year, year out and Matt Slack is the Hippodrome’s go-to chucklemeister with a vast array of comic routines and monologues dutifully delivered with relentless verve hitting his targets with unerring accuracy. His vim and energy are undeniable, and he connects straight to the heart of the audience he has played to for over ten years and they love it. TV’s Alison Hammond gamely throws herself into the fun and more than holds her own as the Magical Mermaid whilst Danny Mac adds a menacing venom to that most villainous of villains, Captain Hook.
I’ve long thought pantos derived from literary sources (Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio, Alice etc) suffer more by comparison than those based on inherited folk tales where the author is unknown, but this production blows my theory out of the water and gives Birmingham a triumphant and joyous evocation of JM Barrie’s book doubtless with a percentage of the takings going to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital as the author intended. It’s a tale which has woven itself into our collective consciousness seeming like it was there forever. This production is true to the source with the poignant moments still ringing true and the remainder of the story crammed with joyful pantomimic frolics.
But the beating heart of any great pantomime is the dame, and we have the ebullient Andrew Ryan who provides a bubbling, buoyant and endearingly engaging mumsy character and, though somewhat under used, is everything a great dame should be. Watch his mannerisms, intonations and physicality and you’re connecting directly with the ritual, tradition and history of panto. And, though he, of course, adds a modern spin, he simultaneously and wholeheartedly carries the flame and bears the standard of all those great, beloved dames of the past no longer with us.
Noah Harrison is a detailed and joyful Pan, Cian Hughes as Michael, Billie-Kay as Tink and Rhiannon Chesterman give their all and hold their own amidst the tsunami of technology, lighting and sound.
And once more we have a strong, solid, family show of the which the Hippodrome can be proud.
Playing until 2nd February 2025, https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/peter-pan-two/
Reviewer: Peter Kinnock
Reviewed: 23rd December 2024
North West End UK Rating: