Peter Pan The Never Ending Story Review
Peter Pan
The Never Ending Story
NIA Arena, Birmingham
13-15 December 2013
Reviewed by Jane Hopkins MBE
We all know the story of Peter Pan; it's the classic tale told many times of the boy who never grows old. I wasn't sure what to expect from the stage version, and I couldn't help wonder how they would manage it but this production takes the recreation of a timeless tale to a whole new level.
The J.M. Barrie Classic receives the full-on, state of the art high-tech treatment and I was delighted to take my 8 year old son to the opening night of the UK tour at the NIA Arena in Birmingham.
As you walk into the impressive arena you know you're in for a treat and the superbly choreographed and acrobatic opening scene begins, introducing us to a precedent of what is indeed to come.
The stage is centrally set, with three large book-shaped platforms from where the actors leap, either from or to, when running from or chasing baddies.
Fireworks, clever lighting and background graphics create a complete set of changing environments and atmosphere that seamlessly change with each set change.
A giant bookshelf design is the backdrop used to project the computer generated graphics that create each new scene, be it the Darling children's bedroom, or flying above the city of London and through clouds as they fly to Neverland, or the choppy seas complete with blue whales spurting water (not entirely sure how they achieved that) and then on to Neverland itself complete with frightening pirate ship and real fire.
The audience surrounds the huge stage area, giving every seat in the house a clear view. Additionally, there are two huge screens showing both an extension of the backdrop and enabling the audience to see the actors singing close up.
At the base of the stage is a dark area, soon into the first half you realise what it's for; first up, a giant puppet dog suddenly appeared from within the audience and made its way to the stage, exciting everyone in that area, later a murmuring from the audience to the left of the stage alerted us to a massive crocodile approaching stealthily who made its way around and then up onto the stage, specifically to frighten Captain Hook which it delivered perfectly. Not wanting to ruin the end, he made another appearance later…
X-Factor's Stacy Solomon made her debut narrating as the fairy Tinker Bell. Unseen for most of the performance, she made an appearance in the second half to huge applause and appreciation and she did a fine job of singing while flying.
Great musical score from the classics such as "one day I'll fly away", Robbie’s “Angels”, and Duran Duran's wild boys when the pirates made an entrance, and the daunting tones of Nessun Dorma when Captain Hook arrived. Which was slightly scary…
And of course no production of Peter Pan would be complete with flying, which wasn't always on wires. I kid you not, Peter Pan flew without wires!
My son chuckled regularly throughout, it was so well presented that even without the narration and dialogue you would easily keep up with the story. Familiar music, trap doors to mask the escape or appearance of baddies, baddies on bungee wires flying out above audience all makes for an awfully great adventure and I was delighted to share the experience with my son.
We genuinely did not want it to end, a few people around us left at the end of the story to beat the traffic but if you go to see Peter Pan I urge you to stay right till to the end because as the actors come out to take their bows, the show continues with more dance routines and it's worth watching those last moments, where the cast disappear into the back of the stage which is now a giant open book, and then Peter Pan slowly closes the book and waves one last goodbye, it’s an emotional performance. Marvellous.
Rating: 5/5 
