This year’s pantomime at the Grand Theatre is Peter Pan, the story of the boy who doesn’t want to grow up. We follow his adventures in Neverland accompanied by the three Darling children as Peter (Jack Heasman) is on a quest to find a mother for the Lost Boys. Rachel Grundy plays Peter’s fairy friend Tinkerbell, roller skating impressively across the stage.
The villain of the pantomime is Captain Hook (Tom Lister) who along with his crew of pirates receives lots of boos as well as laughs.
It is Radio Lancashire’s Steve Royle in the role of Smee whose character and jokes appeal most to children and adults alike with a spot of juggling and acrobatics thrown in for good measure.
There are some good songs throughout the show; my favourite being Walking on Sunshine sung by Tiger Lily (Natalie Hollingsworth).
The Lost Boys and other children’s ensemble roles are endearingly performed by children from the Barbara Jackson Theatre Arts Centre and I am sure they will have inspired many other children in the audience.
For me the outstanding parts of the show were the flying scenes, especially Peter Pan flying out from the stage way above the audience to the upper circle; quite breath-taking and certainly requiring a good head for heights!
There is lots in this show for all ages; certainly the little girls from a Rainbow group seated near me really enjoyed it, singing along, booing and cheering enthusiastically and I am sure they will have some happy memories of their visit.
Peter Pan run until 5th January 2020 and well worth a visit to this beautiful theatre.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Cowell
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