PETER PAN AT VENUE CYMRU, LLANDUDNO
The panto is one of the most popular events for families at Christmas time and Venue Cymru’s 2017 production Peter Pan proves to be a high flying treat.
Adapted from the original by J M Barrie the story is based in Neverland and the dastardly tracking down of Peter Pan, the boy who refuses to grow up, by the rascal Captain Hook.
Children of all ages packed into the theatre for the panto’s opening night and were all delighted with the production.
Former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas played Captain Hook and had little difficulty in getting the audience to boo and hiss whenever he was on stage. In only his second panto season he made a convincing baddie but perhaps there were too many references to his 16-year stint as Jason Grimshaw on the Wetherfield cobblestones. Not everyone in the audience is a Corrie fan but that’s a minor point really.
Playing the Dame was Andy Jones who delighted Venue Cymru audiences in last year’s pantomime, Aladdin.
In stark contrast to Thomas the local resident is making his 36th pantomime appearance this year and wears even more outrageous frocks.
He led several of the panto’s hilarious comedy routines combining well with Birkenhead-born theatre star Pauline Daniels who plays Mimi the Mermaid.
The writing mixes the basic Peter Pan story with local references and comedy slapstick routines, and this is well balanced.
There is wicked humour and enormous fun, and moments of cringing puns, but never anything to cause offence. Well not for me anyway.
The lighting is effective and the flying sequences impressive if sometimes overdone. It seems everyone has a go on the wires at some point during the show.
I loved the crocodile scenes which got the entire audience shouting in traditional panto style.
The parts of Wendy’s brothers, John and Michael Darling are played by four local youngsters chosen at an open audition in October. Both gave a good account of themselves and curly haired Charlton Taylor caught the audience’s eye as Michael on opening night. Eryl Crump Peter Pan runs at Venue Cymru until Sunday, December 31. Further details online at venuecymru. co.uk or the box office on 01492 872000