Peter Pan
Hilton Brighton Metropole
until 29th December 2019
Peter Pan | review
A Soaring Trip To NeverLand
Peter Pan Review
Hilton Brighton Metropole & Samuel French LTD
Peter Pan at the Brighton Metropole offers heaps of fun for the whole family, if you’re looking to enjoy a panto in the Brighton area it’s the one to see, and promises all of the pantomime tricks and traditions you can hope to expect in this favourite festive tradition.
The lead three cast members all bring plenty of flair to the show. Richard Dawes who plays Smee builds a brilliant rapport with the audience throughout, he’s the confident comical character who offers silliness aplenty, showing off a surprisingly large range of impressive dance moves! Nathan Charman, best known for starring in The Voice UK plays the villainous Captain Hook, with very powerful singing and a charming nature, so charming that there is even a slight twist to just how “bad” this baddie really is, which was refreshing. I was particularly impressed with Allison Ferns, who is a regional celebrity as a presenter on BBC Sussex. I was unaware of her performing arts background which shone through in her confidence on stage, she seemed to really enjoy every moment, belting out tunes and jokes at every opportunity with a brilliant voice and plenty of character. A few of the puns were a bit fishy, but then again she was playing Delores The Mermaid – so no surprises there!
The particularly enjoyable moments included the classic twelve days of Christmas sketch, which featured “two football shirts” followed by the local chant “seagulls seagulls!” which was hilarious, as well as the “If I was not in panto I would be” song, where absolute chaos ensues in a very clever routine that had me in stitches. It’s one of those magic routines that gets funnier the more you see it and it was brilliant. Of course, you can also expect flying, fireworks, great numbers new and old, some slick choreography and a very special appearance from McKenzie… the real life dog who makes a brief cameo as Nana. Another highlight was the musical arrangements by Anthony J Quimby, who was fantastic on the piano all evening and didn’t play a key out of note.
If I was being critical then I would say the ticket prices are slightly dear for a production of this scale, but ultimately it provides a great experience for families looking for a lot of fun this Christmas and the talented leads make it a great show. It was also extra special that the company were raising money for Chailey Heritage at the end of the performance, a pioneering charity which educates and cares for children and young people with complex physical disabilities.
The Hilton hotel served as a lovely venue to stage this production and the tiered seating ensures everyone gets a great view of the show. So if you’re looking for a bit of panto magic in BN1 then make sure you take a trip to NeverLand before 29 December!
Reviewer: Stephen Sheldrake
Peter Pan is being performed at the Brighton Metropole until the 29th December.