It’s Peter Pan, Jim, but not as we know it! It is exactly what it says on the tin – The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan. In this tale, the Pixie Dust Waterfall has dried up and calls for characters from J M Barrie’s classic tale to return to Neverland to help save the day. As ever, the title story is a mere excuse for the fantastical shenanigans of the team at what was formerly known as the King’s panto to produce their annual festive treat of loveable tropes. That weel kent name has been temporarily dropped as the actual King’s Theatre has been closed since 2022 for a major refurbishment with the mighty Festival Theatre playing an admirable stand-in till Christmas 2024.
Following an opening of big screen visuals, the ensemble takes stage in gladiatorial sparkle before Allan Stewart makes his appearance from a suspended peacock throne as the outrageous May McSmee, former cook to Captain James T Hook, played with his usual villainous glee by Grant Stott. This year marks Allan Stewart’s 25th appearance as the pantomime dame and Grant Stott’s 25th pantomime appearance making it a double silver anniversary for the belovèd dame and villain duo. Three local Edinburgh performers give excellent performances as the Barrie characters with Rebecca Stenhouse as Tink, Robyn Whyte as Wendy, Kieran Lynch as an elegant and elfin Peter Pan, while Clare Gray returns to the stage in her role of Starkey continuing the family links with her Dad, the late Andy Gray. Jordan Young as May’s hapless Smee is the perfect clown as his feigned idiocy masks his seriously impressive skills as he steps up to move along with the 6 strong high energy street dance troupe Flawless, who play Hook’s Pirate crew and whose acrobatic skills are matched by the Panto trio’s linguistic agility.
Interactivity is the name of the game with eager audience involvement and engagement throughout and a very flimsy 4th wall allowing jibes at TV and radio careers of the principals. Familiar features of corny jokes, rhymes, tongue twisters, catch phrases and local fitbaa references are loved by regulars and designed to entice newbies to return and be bathed in their warm cheeky familiarity. Any innuendo flies as high above the we’ans heids as Tinkerbell in flight but has adults roaring.
Add to these wonders giant screen visuals, detailed sets and props like the ghostly galleon with a skull figurehead, elaborate costumes notable being the ensemble’s multiple Principal Boys as a nod to past panto traditions and of course the mechanical surprise that ends the first act never fails to be jaw-droppingly good. The 5 piece orchestra that is acknowledged but never seen provide not just music but sounds to synchronise with some stage action and deserve special mention.
As part of this sword-swashingly spectacular show, a robust rendering by Stottie of On the Beach at Portobello, written by Glasgow folk singer/songwriter, the late Matt McGinn, alongside better known Proclaimers’ numbers, seals this as a truly Scottish night out this Yuletide.
Show runs at Festival Theatre Edinburgh till 31st December 2023
Running time 2hours 25mins
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 