Peter Pan - Grand Theatre, Blackpool - 05/12/09
This was one pantomime whose opening night literally got off to a flying start as Barney Harwood soared to the top of the Grand Theatre and later descended for a glittering finale, sprinkling a cloud of silver paper over the audience.
That spectacular display summed up this lively production, showing the effort, imagination and superb scenic effects which made this seasonal offering so special.
You didn't notice the time passing.
The UK Productions show had everything – super singing, dazzling dancing, eye-catching costumes, accomplished acting but above all humour, with a clever and witty script containing plenty of topical and local references to keep both adults and children laughing.
Children's TV presenter Barney, who all the children had clearly come to see, threw himself into the lead role heart and soul, carrying things along with conviction.
His young admirers loved him.
He had a strong supporting cast, comedy juggler Steve Royle (the Evening Post's Tuesday night columnist) particularly impressing with consummate comic timing and clever ad-libbing.
Even when faced with youngsters on stage who declined to fully co-operate, he kept his cool and the laughs kept coming.
Gemma Hunt cut a pretty fairy as Tinkerbell, simpering and fluttering her eyelashes and managing to inject real vitality into her part, while Gary Turner conveyed a nastily-humorous Captain Hook perfectly.
Mention must be made of the stunning acrobatic interlude.
The four athletic pirates made vaulting and somersaulting look so simple and infused it with a slapstick humour which provoked laughs upon laughs – all without speaking.
This excellent show runs until January 3 – don't miss it.
Peter Ward
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 29 July 2010
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 15 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: West
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Light rain
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