If you have ever witnessed an Amateur Dramatic performance where things didn’t quite go as they were scripted, or designed (and I certainly have) then get yourself down to the Theatre Royal Brighton to enjoy Peter Pan Goes Wrong, a superb slapstick comedy that takes that situation and multiplies it to the most extreme degree.
In a play that features a cast of actors, playing a cast of characters who are, in turn, playing all the characters from J M Barrie’s masterpiece, we meet the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society who are presenting their annual Christmas show, a show which, in previous years, has been a complete disaster.
From the outset it is obvious that things are not going well when, just 15 minutes before “curtain up”, most of the cast and crew are running around the auditorium trying to find a “missing hammer” and fix some very dodgy wiring on stage. The atmosphere that this chaos creates ensures that, as soon as the production begins in earnest, the audience is already firmly on board.
Not since the heady days, when the late great Rik Mayall and his comedy partner Adrian Edmondson threw themselves around the stage in their performances of Bottom Live!, has slapstick been given such a superb platform. Using impeccable comic timing and all the skill they can muster, this incredible cast work their way through disaster after disaster, leaving the audience never really sure just how many of the pitfalls are actually scripted.
The entire show is an endless stream of accidents, resulting in broken limbs, concussion, an accidental stabbing and even a near fatal electrocution, all interspersed with an incredibly accurate depiction of the political feuding and backstage romances that are so often associated with Am Dram companies.
There are no highlights in this show as every single second from start to finish is at the very highest level, but moments to mention are Wendy (Katy Daghorn), Michael (Tom Babbage) and John’s first attempt at flying – leaving the three of them wearing just their underwear, with John (Romayne Andrews) showing off some very colourful boxer briefs!
Every character in the piece is perfectly portrayed with Jonathan, the egomaniac “star” of the piece, (played by Ciaran Kellgren) a thoroughly loathsome individual, The Director, Chris, (Connor Crawford) so desperate to be successful and “serious actor” Robert (Oliver Stenton) only too happy to launch into a wonderful display of contemporary dance – dressed in only a figure hugging lycra onesie! Lucy’s stage fright and dramatic accident give Georgia Bradley several opportunities to enlist sympathy from the audience, which they are only to happy to give by the bucket-load.
Francis, the Narrator, (Patrick Warner) is almost blown up and thrown across the stage with almost indecent regularity and when Annie (Phoebe Ellabani) finds that water and electricity don’t mix the audience can’t help but wonder what might happen next. Well, the quick answer is that the “replacement Peter Pan” (you have to see the piece to find out why he is needed) ends up hanging, upside down and concussed – leaving Ethan Moorhouse‘s seriously impressive naked backside glowing in the bright stage lighting.
No matter what age you are, from 6 to 106, this show will tickle your funny bone right the way from start to finish. The supremely talented and versatile cast will have lovers of Am Dram, lovers of comedy, lovers of theatre and lovers of tv shows like You’ve Been Framed, laughing their socks off!
***** Five Stars