Christmas just isn’t the same without a trip to Whitley Bay to visit the pantomime at The Playhouse.
This year Blue Genie Entertainment have brought to us a brand-new adventure of Peter Pan.
The story is set years later after the original Peter Pan, with Jessica and Angela Darling, the great, great, granddaughters of Wendy.
Tinkerbell arrives looking for Wendy wanting help in Neverland as Tinkerbell fears for Peter Pan and the return of Captain Hook. Wendy persuades Jessica and Angela to fly to Neverland to help.
Steve Walls as Smee is on top form, full of energy, plenty of jokes for young and old, instantly connecting with the audience with perfect rapport.
Playing brilliantly alongside Steve was Luke Martin as Starkey, with some hilarious interaction.
Luke’s excellent comic timing makes a perfect panto match. The spirited Peter Pan, Harry Downes, is incredibly likeable. Captain Hook, Darren Day, is probably the best villain I’ve seen this season., with perfect vocals taking in every boo and hiss with relish.
Daniel Mawston, one of the best Dames in panto land, adds the glitz and glamour with plenty of humour.
Tinkerbell, Mary J Proud, providing a twist with Tinkerbell on skates. This year Mary has shown us what an incredible singing voice she has. Jessica Darling, Sophie Mckinnon, was gutsy and energetic.
Angela Darling has three actors playing the part at various times. In the performance I saw was Marta Cooper-Jarzynka, a star for the future, both singing and acting was sensational.
The ensemble of dancers filled the stage and added the right amount of sparkle with incredibly energetic performances from the choreography by Joanne Walls. The lights, sound and staging are perfect with incredible flying effects.
Of course, the star of the show was ‘the bench’ with an inventive twist!
If you only see one panto this season, it must be Peter Pan.
Peter Pan runs until 4th January at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay.
