If Peter Pan at His Majesty’s Theatre doesn’t get you hooked on the festive spirit, then nothing will.
This a huge, joyous panto, liberally sprinkled with pixie dust, along with huge laughs, spectacular song and dance numbers, lavish sets and a sense of warmth that’s like having a big hug.
Add to that special effects that will have your jaw-dropping as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell soar over the stage – and even have you literally jumping out of your seat. Well, it did in the case of one wee girl who leapt into her mum’s bosie when the monster crocodile loomed out over the stalls.
This, though, isn’t Pan as we know it – oh, no it’s not. This is The Pantomime Adventures Of Peter Pan, a sequel to the original – with the blessing of the JM Barrie estate – that sees Tinkerbell fetching Wendy back to Neverland to teach Peter to fly again after he forgot how to soar.
Huge roar as Alan McHugh returns for 18th outing as HMT dame
It’s a genius device from writer Alan McHugh that gets straight into the action without faffing around in London nurseries. It also means you don’t know what’s coming your way for the next two hours, although it’s a fair guess Captain Hook and the crocodile will show up at some point.
On the subject of genius, Alan not only wrote he also directs Peter Pan and is back for his 18th outing as HMT’s Dame.
It’s a welcome return – you can tell from the massive roaring cheer that greeted him the moment he stepped onto the stage as Dame Maggie Celeste in the first of his increasingly elaborate and hilarious costumes.
And he wasted no time in picking up from where he left off in his comedy double act with the gifted and effortlessly funny PJ Corrigan as Smee.
The pair have a real chemistry on stage, making it look easy as they riff through the gags and wordplay skits – even when PJ loses the plot.
Strictly legend Brendan Cole brings extra glitter to Peter Pan at HMT
Extra glitter this year comes from Strictly Come Dancing legend Brendan Cole as Captain Hook – and he is a real star turn.
He is able to go from funny to camp to actually quite scarily brutal – Tinkerbells wings! – in an instant. But always sitting right behind that is a genuinely playful and funny personality – even when he’s getting the “oh no you’re nots” going.
Brendan’s a huge sport, going along with the merciless ribbing from Alan and PJ – “I’m not Australian, I’m Kiwi!”. He certainly isn’t Anton Du Beke, either.
And as much fun as he has as Hook, Brendan really shines in those moments when he gets to step out of character and back to being himself – a pro dancer par excellence. A dance-off between him and Alan and PJ is one of the highlights of the show.
It was clear the audience loved Brendan – even if they didn’t know whether to boo or cheer, so they just did both in equal measure.
Humour is bedrock of hilarious Peter Pan at His Majesty’s Theatre
Peter Pan is blessed with other great performances, be it Danielle Jam’s excellently feisty and very Doric Tink (I wouldn’t mess with her) or Wendy coming to save the day – an excellent turn from Beth Nicholson who has a voice coming to a West End musical theatre stage soon, I reckon.
Add in a dashing Peter Pan with Michael Karl-Lewis and you have a frontline cast that is just superb. And even better given Danielle, Beth and Michael are all Aberdeen born and bred – it’s not just the granite that sparkles round these parts.
Humour is, as always, the absolute bedrock of His Majesty’s panto and this year it turns the slapstick quotient up to 11. A knockabout scrabble with props while singing A Sailor Went To Sea Sea Sea was a showstopper from Alan, PJ, Brenda and Danielle, that had the audience in stitches.
How to get tickets for Peter Pan at His Majesty’s Theatre
And a scene involving Alan and PJ having a conversation built entirely around dog breeds is as funny as it is groan-inducing.
From curtain up to the final glitter cannon blasting as the cast wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Peter Pan is the very essence of what panto should be – just magical.
Peter Pan is at His Majesty’s Theatre until Sunday January 8. For more information and tickets go to aberdeenperformingarts.com
WATCH: Take an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of HMT’s panto Peter Pan
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