The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

Dominic Corr

Nov 30

Written by Harry Michaels and Allan Stewart

With Additional Material from Grant Stott and Matt Slack

Directed by Ed Curtis

Tickets from £24.00

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Though the King's Theatre annual pantomime may find itself over at the second star to the right at the Festival Theatre, this long-haul flight hasn't tuckered out the team one iota. Truthfully, this may well be one of the most 'pantomime' of pantomimes performed this year on the circuit. Stretching out the jolly jogger and cascading down Mermaid Falls, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan stamps the word 'Pantomime' right across the face of Edinburgh as our favourites return to usher in the end of the year.

Returning for their 25th performance as a Dame, Allan Stewart and his terrific pair of legs are joined by Grant Stott and the now firmly established Jordan Young to complete the trio – and this year, they are the stars of the show. But those looking for a storybook escapade of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys need not fear entirely, for there is a plot. Somewhat. Written by Harry Michaels and Stewart, with additional material from Stott and Matt Slack, Edinburgh's foundations of rich theatre and tongue-in-cheek pantomime are in safe hands here.

A sequel to the original tale of Pan and Hook, where Wendy discovered the Lost Boys, Indian camps, and murderous mermaids, this new adventure finds the magic of Neverland running dry. And it's all tied into the hand(s) of that dastardly Hook, who is quite rightly sore about the whole 'losing a limb' thing. Expect the familiar beats of J. M Barrie's tale of crocodiles, fairies, flight, and sword fights - but if you ever decide to look beyond the panto magic – you're not going to see much in the way of traditional storytelling.

And in a bizarre twist, this a successfully clever choice to make. Perhaps the most focused the King's Pantomime has been in recent years to the variety age of the form, it maintains the new trademark quality of glitz and glamour - but the heart of this adventure rests closer to a showcase of tightly choreographed dance, catchy changes to contemporary pop songs, and a whole ship full of jokes, gags, sniggers, and warm-hearted merriment.

Instead of flexing the runtime and story, the spectacle is carried in music, Rory Beaton's lighting, and luridly vivid colours rather than storytelling. It's a constant stream which captures the pacing away from the expository moments; it feels quick and lively. As audiences fly past the lagoons of Neverland, onto the Jolly Roger's deck, or back to the snow-capped rooftops of Wendy's home, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan looks gorgeous, especially when lit up to the nines with every colour imaginable, and enough pyrotechnics to stage a small coup.

Now swoggle me eyes, a bunch of bilge rats seem to have made it onboard this time – though this could also be Stott's wig. Yes, the meanest baddie in panto land, the big tidy himself, is back and soaking up the glory of playing one of the best villains in Captain Hook. Accepting their booing and hissing, throwing out references and football jabs, but taking all the shots fired back with open palms, well, palm, Stott continues their legacy in Edinburgh pantomime with The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan being their 25th year.

Continuing a legacy, Clare Gray is met with a welcome return to the stage, this time as Starkey, one of Hook's top crew members. Aligning with the accomplished nature of the show, this is the most natural and authentic way Gray's character has been integrated, standing side to side with the principal cast for musical numbers, getting in some terrific one-liners, and making a suitable foil for Young. And what a fine addition that Young has made to the gang, bringing a balance of more traditional and bouncing energy to the team's 'vintage' co-stars. And not just the end of all jokes, Young's comedic timing and physicality are a much-needed injection of momentum to some song sequences and hold their own for a crowd-roaring performance with this year's star-act, Flawless, who bring disciplined movement and a propulsive energy to scenes as Hook's motley crew.

And we'll tell you who else is flawless, that there Allan Stewart as May McSmee. Descending from high to mingle with the riffraff, Stewart sets the tone (about two steps from the bottom) of the entire evening with their grin, their charm, and their reliable stage presence and immediate connection with the entire theatre. As capable of holding the stage as they are sharing it, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan is another feather in the cap of one of showbiz's greatest.

With an entire theatre full of support, Tink, Peter, and Wendy are unfortunately second-fiddle for the plot proceedings – given all three are in this hometown panto, it does seem a touch unfortunate. Especially as the trio perform admirably in their roles, Robyn Whyte's singing and stage presence is expertly conducted and showcases a future leading performer. While Rebecca Stenhouse brings all the leading lady elements to a traditional panto's good fairy motif but does so with a relish for the brash and snide takedowns of Hook.

But with this polished routine of the variety-nature, which the local trio give their gusto to. The skits occasionally ring familiar, but the precision and polish accompanying them are staggeringly well-executed. So much so that the audience favourite 'flubs' are less noticeable this time around, and when genuine incidents occur, there's a much more natural response from the crowds. And though they say never smile at a Crocodile, you'd be a fool if you weren't leaving Act One without a toothy grin. Thanks to The Twins FX spectacular puppetry which terrifies and delights audiences with a suitably ticking and tocking Crocodile to tie together a show which catches the audience (Cap'n) Hook, line, and sinker.

Everyone on the Festival Theatre stage: Stewart and Stott, Whyte and Lynch, the Flawless dancers, Andy Pickering and the live band, right through to the ensemble performers, stagehands and crew glitter in their own way, lighting a beacon of frolicsome and variety panto performance. Oh, aye pals, Panto is back, and it's precisely the journey we all need right now.

Hook, Line, and Sinker

The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan runs at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, until December 31st
Running time - Two hours and twenty-five minutes with one interval
Photo credit - Douglas Robertson