|
|
|
|
|
Pan flying(ish) high . . . sort of
Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Malvern Theatres
**** There's something to be said for the
craft of purposefully bad acting. With impeccable comic timing, faux trips and
slips and overacting with intent, Mischief Theatre Company created a
hilarious recreation of the worst (or best, in terms of comedy) amateur
dramatics show in the country. Peter Pan Goes Wrong features a motley crew of
amateur thespians putting on a panto - or "traditional Christmas
vignette" as the pretentious director, doubling up as Captain Hook,
likes to call it. You can see which way it's heading as the
elderly, bearded assistant director announces to the audience that due
to illness, he will be playing the child part of Michael, and one of the
leading actors who forgets his lines will be assisted with an electronic
ear piece - hence many jokes when the transmitter picks up radio
stations and police radios in the area. Soon after, coffee gets spilled on the mixing
desk sparking a series of impromtu sound effects and damning recordings
of conversations between the cast off stage. It's a laugh a minute, or more, and by the end of
the performance, the stage, cast and storyline is spinning out of
control at a breathless rate as the director goes into meltdown. This riotous affair is from a theatrical company
that was formed in 2008 by a group of graduates and students of The
London Academy of Music & Art, which could explain it's vibrant, silly
sense of fun. It's a farce with all the key elements of
slapstick, personality and ridiculousness, but for those who have seen
The Play That Goes Wrong, it's not quite as slick as an affair as that. What it will leave you with is a smile on your
face and the wish that all pantos could be like this. To 24-01-15 Alison Brinkworth19-01-15
|
|
|
|
