Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Lyric Theatre. Photo: David Watson
May the farce be with you! Sorry, couldn’t resist that. A couple of hours of highly physical comedy, silliness and slapstick – all delivered with split-second timing – will do that to you. Peter Pan does go very wrong, and it’s pure fun and entertainment from start to finish.
Co-written by Mischief Theatre company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, we are here to witness the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society do their worst. Leading the cast is Jay Laga’aia along with seven of the actors who gave us their woeful best in The Play That Goes Wrong – Darcy Brown, Francine Cain, Adam Dunn, Luke Joslin, George Kemp, Jordan Prosser and Tammy Weller – with newcomers Teagan Wouters and Connor Crawford.
ordan Prosser, Francine Cain, George Kemp and then Luke Joslin as the dog. Photo: David Watson
So we have the tallest actor cast as baby Michael (in a pink nappy suit); we have John Darling wearing headphones (because he can’t remember any of his lines); we have Tootles paralysed by stage fright; we have ongoing feuds between the Director and the Assistant Director; we have off stage amours and infidelities; we have Captain Hook hookless; a sulky Crocodile; and missed cues and misdemeanours. As Mrs Darling says in the first few minutes: “What can possibly go wrong?” – as a piece of heavy lighting equipment falls in front of her face.
Split second timing is essential if farce is going to work, and the timing is spot on here. That’s just one instance. It’s all wonderfully well-orchestrated under Adam Meggido’s direction. It’s not easy to muck up this well.
The stage crew have many reasons to be on stage, not least to rescue Nanna who’s stuck in the dog flap. Of course. And to make sure that Peter Pan can fly… a little bit. All this and much more.
Farce is called low comedy. Well, here’s to low comedy, high jinx, fine tuning and lots of laughter.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong plays at the Lyric Theatre until March 3.
