HCHQ Theatre Review: Happy Days… Peter Pan Panto starring Henry Winkler in Richmond-Upon-Thames, UK.
Last night I had the absolute pleasure of climbing aboard the good ship Panto with Richmond Theatre’s 2013 Christmas Pantomime production of Peter Pan, starring no less than The Fonz himself – Mr Henry Winkler – playing the irascible Captain Hook – still possessing that Fonz-glint-to-his-eye.
Together with my eight-year-old and my own Mum we took a delightful and very funny trip down memory lane, three generations disappearing into the mists of Neverland and what is the uniquely British experience of Christmas Pantomime.
I can unequivocally state that this year’s production is just utterly brilliant and I haven’t laughed so much in years.
Winkler’s Hook (no pun intended) was certainly enough to engender plenty of “He’s behind you’s!” with much boo-ing and hissing from the audience, which as the evil Captain Hook, Winkler really worked up. This American star really did get it – the British humour of it – he was very funny and got what panto’s meant to be about. Entertaining in all the right ways, this pantomime was everything that a good panto’ should be. And I say this with a small degree of authority since I have had to sit through a fair few of these, these past years at Richmond, not to mention those of my own childhood at Richmond Theatre. So you see, its somewhat of a Clive family tradition our annual panto trip, Richmond theatre holds a special place in our hearts (my Dad starred at Richmond the night Man first landed on the Moon for example!) so, I am relieved to say that this year – Richmond finally got it right.
As a songwriter myself, I am pleased to relate that evidently someone was wise enough to actually bother with a decent music budget this year so the score includes a number of very well known, indeed top drawer sing-along classics and of every era – from Guns n Roses “Sweet Child of Mine” to Madness’s “Our House”; from Tina Turner to the London traditional “Lambeth walk” plus contemporary chart songs. The costumes were fabulous, as were the sets. Last but certainly not least – every single one of the cast was superb (including the child actors: yes really!) – and no star turns carrying weaker ‘celebrity’ others here, as has sadly been the case previously.
From its indisputable star Henry Winkler, through pirates, lost boys and Indians, right down to the diminutive and hilarious Tinkerbell – all of them ‘worked it’ and just as they should. All classic pantomime gag boxes ticked here (including a few I had forgotten) and some hysterical modern twists too: “Yes their Indian tom toms keep me awake at night” – pirate holds up tom tom sat nav: “At the next junction…turn right”. Lots of actual flying, flames, funny modern references like the “Strictly” gag…(no spoilers here). Yep I can say hand on heart that indeed the writers have got it right this year, as have the rest of the production team. Well done Richmond! HCHQ heartily recommends: Oh and ladies…Da Fonz still got it going on baby!!
http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/peter-pan-richmond/richmond-theatre/?utm_source=cheetah&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Solus-Richmond
