The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan

Yes, it’s Panto season again and Scotland’s capital makes no exception with THE PANTOMIME ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN – a glitzy, swashbuckling spectacle if ever there was one! Once again, the unbeatable trio of Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young (not to forget the rest of the ensemble) deliver gags, songs and excitement galore, while the jaw-dropping set designs complement the show.

Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan (penned by Scottish novelist J.M. Barrie) and if not, then everyone should. In this year’s Panto lush extravaganza, our titular hero (Kieran Lynch) appears to have lost his ability to fly – oh dear! Fear not, help is at hand thanks to his friends Tink (Rebecca Stenhouse) and Wendy (Robyn Whyte) but… along the journey to Neverland, Tink loses her wings, though there’s a reason behind it.

Of course, you will have guessed it… yes, is everyone’s favourite Edinburgh Panto villain Grant Stott, who, in this latest production, is having himself an absolute blast as the dastardly dandy pirate Captain James T. Hook Esq. Every pirate captain needs a suitable crew and thus he is flanked by his very own scallywags ‘Flawless’ – the award-winning dance sensation fronted by Marlon Wallen, who worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry and performed for the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert. Their hugely acrobatic street dance routines turned out to be especially popular with the younger audience members. Hook also has an ally in female pirate wench Starkey (Clare Gray) though halfway through the adventure, she jumps camp and decides that even she has enough of Hook.

Above all, the show is dominated by much loved Auntie May McSmee, hilariously performed by ‘grand dame’ Allan Stewart, who this year celebrates 25 years as Edinburgh’s favourite Panto dame – congratulations, Allan. 25 seems to be the magic number because Grant Stott also celebrates 25 years in Edinburgh Panto!
Stewart is amply supported by Jordan Young as her cheeky son Smee – cue for plenty of scatological humour and some wind breaking jokes thrown in for good measure. Together with Stott, the trio deliver full-on, side-splittingly funny gag after gag, sketch after sketch routines which has the audience in stitches. As ever, plenty of lip-synced musical numbers in between (both traditional and more modern) though personally, this reviewer is getting a little tired of hearing yet another rehashed version of the Proclaimers’ hit ‘I’m gonna be (500 miles) ’ for the umpteenth time (in how many movies etc. has this ditty been used?). The razor-sharp political barbs are few and far between this time ‘round, though plenty of scope is provided for other send-ups: wait until you see Auntie May and Smee performing their ‘tribute’ to this year’s movie blockbuster ‘Barbie’ – it’s a total hoot! On a par is the mermaid sketch featuring May, Smee and Hook!

Suffice to say, both choreography and set designs are truly captivating, though we can’t give any details away without spoiling the broth, only that there is of course a pirate ship and oh yes, a cutlass duel between May and Captain Hook to the soundtrack of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. Just as funny is Starkey’s attempt teaching Smee how to use that very weapon. Well then, all ye landlubbers – what are ye waiting for? Get your ticket now and hoist the sails, the Festival Theatre is waiting!

THE PANTOMIME ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN runs until Sunday the 31st of December (Hogmanay) at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh. Info and tickets can be obtained via: capitaltheatres.com

Picture credit: Douglas Robertson)