Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Royal & Derngate Northampton Review
Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Royal & Derngate, Northampton
23-28 February 2015
Reviewed by Philippa Plater
The theatre is the joining of the old ‘Royal’ theatre and the more modern ‘Derngate’ theatre. It has an enormous modern welcoming entrance. The ticketing staff we incredibly helpful and courteous. Peter Pan Goes Wrong is played in the Royal Theatre, which is a most beautiful, small but perfectly formed, Victorian Theatre with original painted fire curtain – but enough of the history and onto the show…
On entering the theatre and heading to our seats (well before the curtains went up) there was already a show going on, fictional sound engineers and such like checking chairs and shouting across the audience about hammers (!) as we tried to find where we were sitting. A hilarious skit, bouncing off the audience and a great way of getting us all giggling before our bums had even hit the seats!
So the play? I hear you ask! I must admit to this being a difficult review to write for two reasons – 1. It is so bloody brilliant I don’t want to tell you all about it and ruin the absolute marvel of it when you go to see it (which you must!) and 2. I really cannot do the humour justice on paper, particularly with it being such a physical comedy. If I had to sum up my night in one sentence it would be “Side-splitting riotous marvelousness ruined by a terrible ending” (more of which later).
This is the production of the fictional ‘Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’ and their take on JM Barrie’s Peter Pan. This is not a pantomime, but is, according to its (fictional) Director an ‘old fashioned vignette’, whatever that means! It has every stereotype of actor from the over-actor (Wendy) to the forget-the-lines-actor (John) and even the I’ve-only-got-part-because-my-dad-made-a-donation-actor (Nana the dog and The Crocodile). The characters are developed very quickly but become very believable, with the audience choosing their favourites, giving a cheer when they’re on stage.
It satirizes everything you have ever thought about amateur dramatic productions; Chris and Robert arguing over the rank of Co-Director, the scenery falling, the stage hands being visible, props not being where they should be, delayed costume changes, mumbling lines, stuttering actors, lighting in the wrong place, incorrect sound effects and this reaches a crescendo in the second half of complete chaos – lots of injured actors, fights and an entrance by the paramedics! The timing is beyond perfect and the physicality of the humour side-splitting. I am not one for public displays but I must admit to belly-laughing and shouting out (at appropriate times only!).
I cannot recommend this enough, it does exactly what it sets out to do and does it fantastically well. It works so well in the more intimate of theatres so I would get down to the Royal Theatre as soon as you can to book your tickets!
Oh the terrible ending??? I got a parking ticket! But not even that could wipe the smile off my face!
Without doubt a massive 5 out of 5 stars!
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £19 to £31 (plus £2.80 transaction fee).
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton until 28 February 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 01604 624811.
Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP | 01604 624811
