The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
A pared-down Peter Pan has got us hooked
The vivid imagination of James Matthew Barrie has never been in doubt. His tales of flying children, boys who never grow up, nasty adversaries and a crocodile with a taste for a pirate captain belie his humble upbringing in Kirriemuir.
It is to the credit of Janys Chambers that her adaptation of Peter Pan sticks true to the bare bones of Sir James’ adventures.
This Pitlochry production, under associate director Ben Occhipinti, is stripped bare with minimal setting by Anna Orton and is a superb example of what can be achieved in this era of budget restraints.
It does have an occasional nod towards (whisper it!) pantomime – eg stylised sword battles, girl playing boy, lady playing man, running around the aisles, two comic “idiots”, audience help in reviving a dying fairy – the kids (all ages) just love it.
The cast of hundreds
(played by nine) are on a romp with some occasional bursts of Gaelic-style chants in superb harmony.
Robbie Scott is the naive Peter Pan with no desire to grow up. He “flies” off with the Darling siblings on a chaotic trip to Neverland with a little help of pixie dust from Tinkerbell – great comic timing by Patricia Panther.
Fiona Wood delightfully leads her brothers John (Ruairidh Mcdonald) and Michael (Stephanie Payne) as she takes over motherly duties for the Lost Boys. The aforementioned “idiots” (no disrespect) are inept pirates Delme
Thomas, using his Welsh accent to the full, and Euan Bennet.
Deirdre Davis manages to surprise us all as the hirsute Smee, right-hand “man” of Captain Hook.
Colin Mccredie is more scatty than scary as his attempts at doing away with Peter Pan are thwarted, falling prey to the crocodile with a ticktocking clock and Hook’s left hand in his belly.
A great antidote to all that surrounds us at the moment – all it takes is “a bit of faith, trust and pixie dust.” You can get hooked on Peter Pan at Pitlochry until December 23.