Peter Pan

Stray Cats Theatre’s Peter Pan gave an adventurous kick off to the school holidays, with its short run filling the smaller theatre at Manpac.

A particularly dark incarnation of this classic story, there were a few small audience members for whom it was a bit too much, with the movement sequences being quite frightening. Having said that, I sought the expert opinion of four year old ‘Jasper’ who declared the whole production “very good”, with a sage nod.

Some lovely production values in this wild ride of a show, with the puppet Nana, created by Kaz Defoy, and operated by Samuel Brian Taylor, and the gorgeous crocodile, made by David Hartley and ‘driven’ by Morgan Randall and Ashleigh Riley, being highlights. A simple but effective set design by Bronwyn White and Karen Francis, was lit with strong choices by Karen Francis and Nick John Morant.

The title role was played by Robbie Fieldwork, a little more mature than most Peters, but a highly athletic and likeable performance. He worked nicely with Rhiannon Francis, who was a sweet and believable Wendy, although sometimes hard to hear over matinee noise. Scott Hansen pulled off the traditional Mr Darling and Captain Hook doubling particularly well and Emily Lambert was a very dynamic Tinkerbell. Ryan White and the ‘handsome’ Braedan Gueur played nicely against each other as Michael and John Darling.

The cast of two dozen worked hard throughout, with standouts including Hunter Perry’s earnest Curly, Pierce Franklin’s enthusiastic Tootles and Bailey Bridgman-Peters’ sweet Slightly. Tara Lynette Elliot was a strong and fierce Tiger Lily, with relative newcomer Shevonne Scadamore a sympathetic Mrs Darling.

While this show didn’t land with every member of the audience, it was great to see this much loved classic and share in this “awfully big adventure”.

Kimberley Shaw