"Peter Pan"
Nottingham Theatre Royal

Boy-cie did that two hours fly by - literally! Nottingham Theatre Royal's panto this year stars John Challis and Joe Pasquale as Captain Hook and Smee, respectively. Two comedy geniii (is that the plural of geniuses?) prove why they are National treasures in the world of comedy.

Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, Tinkerbell his fairy friend and Wendy, Michael and John, the children who flew away to Neverland with Peter and Tinks.

Keeping the story concise, there were no Mr and Mrs Darling and the action started practically straight away with the arrival of Tinkerbell and Peter Pan into the Darling children's bedroom and then straight off to Neverland to battle Captain Hook.

Jack McNeill was a brilliant casting as Peter Pan as you could believe that he was of that age, well he is only 22. He has great energy, which is what is needed for the part of Peter Pan, and his smile is infectious. All this and a talented vocalist as well.

Lucy Evans plays Tinkerbell, and I love the sass in this character - a rude fairy, great fun. Lucy even managed to win over the audience when Tinks was dying after having her wings cut off by the evil Captain Hook.

Talking of whom, John Challis as the nasty Hook was the perfect baddie. Not too frightening as to scare the kids but just nasty enough to get them all boo-ing him. Classic panto villain.

Starkey, Hook's aide, was played by Paul Gabriel, a regular face in TV. Another fun role to watch.

Directed, and choreographed by Jonny Bowles, I really liked the trimmed back version of the story, getting straight into the action and grabbing the kids attention straight away.

What also seemed to be trimmed back were the songs, there didn't seem to be as many songs featured as in previous years, and no real "big" songs. the highlight for me was "Rewrite The Stars" from "The Greatest Showman", but if you didn't know the soundtrack, you wouldn't know the song, so music wise, I didn't feel this show had as much musical impact as the other two pantos in the area this year. And no "Baby Shark" which would have been apt as part of the story line is dependent on the sea.

Talking of which, the 3D section of this panto this year was an under water trip around a wreck, which I loved. 3D is now quite over used in shows but I really did feel that this piece was quite spectacular.

A couple of other high lights for me were the "12 Days Of Christmas" section, which again is becoming a staple part of panto, but still remains comical, especially when the people sitting next to year to decide to leave their sense of humour at home and left their seats when they got sprayed by the water gun, and didn't return. "Boooooo" bring your sense of humour with you nest time!! It's only water after all.

The other part which I enjoy is the kids on stage participation bit. Joe again showed what a supreme ad lib comedy star he is with kids.

The sets are, only to be expected, lavish, which is what Qdos do so well.

I loved the giant crocodile which completely filled the stage and loomed over the orchestra pit, glaring at the audience and swaying it's giant hungry jaws from side to side.

The ensemble, again something that you grow to expect from panto are timed to perfection in the choreography.

The orchestra, I felt were just a tad too loud, very slightly swamping the vocals on some of the songs.

The comedy is a mix of old stuff with a few new, and funny gags thrown in, and there is nothing wrong with old stuff being in there because it still remains to be funny. The seat which Joe sits on is still worthy of an eye watering giggle, as is the pitch change on his voice straight afterwards.

What is there not to be loved about buckles being swashed, flying fairies, pyrotechnics, water guns, giant crocodiles and a very entertaining bunch of actors. Oh yes they arrrrr ( to be said in a piratey style voice).

All in all this is another classic panto with stars who are guaranteed to create big, (me) hearty laughs. It does make me wonder how much of the ad lib is ad lib but that doesn't matter because the kids loves it, as well as the adults, Everyone left with smiles on their faces, which is the aim of a pantomime, so a job well done by all involved.

"Peter Pan" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Sunday 13 January 2019.