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Camp and chaotic, low budget, rude, crude and very silly: well, what were you expecting? Good fun. Go with a group and have a few beers first.Summary
Rating
Good
Apparently, there are people (including within the Everything Theatre team) who do not like pantomime. Oh, yes there are! Well, maybe they should drag (hah!) themselves over to the Phoenix Theatre to watch Peter Pan. Billed as an ‘All Drag Panto’, with strong language and a 16 plus age recommendation it is definitely for adults, but still very definitely a traditional panto. Yes, there is a lot of swearing, sexual references, etc., as you would expect, but nothing cringe inducing and with all the usual panto tropes. There’s plenty of opportunity to boo the baddies, shout the call and response, the ‘behind you’s and the ‘Oh yes/no it is/isn’t’ as appropriate.
Ginger Johnson is a deliciously over the top Captain Hook, Kate Butch gets John (or Michael) just right with ‘posh’ accent and weary swearing. But the award for owning every scene she is in goes to Kitty Scott-Claus as Wendy Darling. Suitably demure, prim and proper throughout. Not.
There are plenty of song and dance numbers to enjoy, the mermaids’ dance being particularly amusing. The dance troupe of Cameron Everett, Zach Parkin and Theo Simpson are deserving of mention. A few songs had one or two bum notes which I hope were deliberate. If not, maybe they should be incorporated. Also, there were quite a few glitches with the sound throughout the show. Sometimes it was much too loud, but at other times nothing, the microphones having cut out. All this adds to the melee I suppose, but makes it very difficult to make out dialogue.
The set, consisting of painted boards on wheels, provides material for some low budget jokes. They do the job – it is obvious where scenes are supposed to be taking place, but they are still boards on wheels. The fact that Tuckshop are using the Phoenix Theatre, currently home to the high production value Stranger Things, makes it even more ironic. Some of the Stranger Things props are still visible in the wings.
There are many references to popular culture, podcasts, TV shows and the like, Drag Race (obviously) The Traitors and Come Dine With Me being a few examples. The problem with that is any audience member not familiar with them won’t get it and may even disengage, but there seems just about the right balance here.
The programme says it is written by Gareth Joyner with additional material by the company, probably added on the day. It did appear a little bit slap dash and under rehearsed, but that was fine. The cast seemed to be enjoying themselves, as were the audience. Shakespearean dialogue with deep and meaningful social and political comment? No. A chance to channel your inner ten year old with Christmas fun, silliness and plenty of penis jokes? Yes. For the full benefit go with a group of like-minded friends, and maybe visit the pub beforehand.
Written by: Gareth Joyner
Directed by: Christopher D. Clegg
Produced by: Tuckshop and Jack Maple with Dee and Edward Parsons and Lee Menzies
Choreographer: Zach Parkin
Peter Pan plays at Phoenix Theatre until 6 January. Further information and tickets available here.
