Having seen Mischief Theatre’s The Play That Goes Wrong a few years ago, I was looking forward to finding out if Peter Pan Goes Wrong could be just as hilarious, and somehow the cast of Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society managed to make this show even funnier.
Luckily for us, we bumped into Cornley’s Robert Grove – played by Matthew Howell – the assistant director (or is it co-director?) of the drama society in the foyer as he said a jovial helloo before we even entered the auditorium. He was totally in character and gave us a taste of things to come.
Once inside, mayhem commenced. Before the show, Mr Grove – who also plays Nana the Dog, Peter Pan’s shadow and Starkey, was trying to get the lights working properly, and ended up roping a large section of the audience into holding the cable to get them to work, whilst other members of the crew were making last minute adjustments – all perfectly planned of course – to the set.
Soon it was time for the director of the drama society, Chris Bean, played by Jack Michael Stacey – who also played George Darling and Captain Hook – to make a big announcement. This year they were putting on an ambitious production of Peter Pan – and it was not a pantomime, he said. Oh yes it is! The audience quipped back.
What can go wrong, did go wrong in spectacular style in this show. From bunk beds that collapsed, Nana getting stuck in the door, Peter’s shadow unable to ‘fly’ (although he does give it a go!) to the longest sketch I’ve ever seen – something you’d think would be pretty innocuous, but the team manage to make it hilarious – Mr Darling attempting to give the boys their medicine with no spoon in sight.
Francis Beaumont, played by Jean-Luke Worrell – who has to be the most flamboyant narrator I have ever seen – really does conform spectacularly to ‘the show must go on’ narrative no matter what predicament he finds himself in.
Cornley’s Annie Twilloil, played by Jamie Birkett who plays Mrs Darling, Lisa, Tinker Bell and Curly (phew!) has the most impeccable comic timing, and those quick changes were just something else.
When stage manager Trevor Watson, played by Jake Burgum has to step in for Peter Pan, things just go from bad to worse. All I can say is things get very cheeky.
Despite the director’s low opinion of Max, played by Theo Toksvig-Stewart who not only played Michael Darling, but also one of the mermaids and the crocodile – he managed to win the audience over right from the start and ended up with Wendy falling for him after Peter showed his true colours.
Dennis, played by Clark Devlin, who plays John Darling, as well as the other mermaid and Mr Smee, is wonderfully brilliant as John who has to be reminded of his lines throughout the show via headphones, but gives the audience more than they bargained for by repeating the drama offstage.
The ultraviolet scene is a comedy in itself, brilliantly staged. The finale with the revolving scenery is just glorious and as you’d expect, absolute chaos – very skilfully orchestrated by the whole cast – and the incredible set, designed by Simon Scullion, changing from the Darlings’ bedroom, to the Mermaids’ lagoon to a fairy glade and back to the pirate ship was incredible.
An absolute must be seen to be believed.
★★★★★
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is at Curve Theatre until Sunday April 7.
Tickets £10-£56.50. Limited tickets available.
Access Performances
Audio Described: Sat 6 Apr, 2.15pm with Touch Tour from 12.45pm
Captioned: Thu 4 Apr, 7.30pm
