Tom Murphy Archives - thespyinthestalls.com

★★★★

“The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto”

Looking for a panto to keep you laughing all the way to Christmas? Look no further than Greenwich Theatre’s latest instalment, ‘Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure’. This riotous show is packed with slapstick, silliness and sparkle for all the family. It’s cheeky, cheerful and utterly charming – catch it while you can!

It’s 2025 and Wendy’s great granddaughter (also called Wendy) is stuck working at a car wash. Luckily her necklace doubles as a distress beacon, summoning Peter Pan who whisks her off to Neverland. Meanwhile, Captain Hook frets about his ‘old’ age, and Tinker Bell – jealous of Wendy’s arrival – tips Hook off about a fountain of youth. Cue pirates, puppets, misadventures, double entendres and more fish puns than you can shake a hook at.

Award winning writer Anthony Spargo returns with his fourth Greenwich panto, a gloriously bonkers spin on J. M. Barrie’s classic tale. Modern twists abound, from a Gen Z Tinker Bell to a flying Vauxhall Astra. The script is crammed with jokes of every flavour: puns, dad jokes and cheeky double entendres, with as many groans as belly laughs. Spargo’s fresh spin has plenty of fun for families and even more for the grown ups. I would argue not every song is necessary, but the sheer comic energy keeps the show fizzing.

Directed by James Haddrell, Greenwich Theatre’s Artistic Director, expect the traditional campy villains and strait-laced goodies. Inventive video transitions, slick turntable scene changes and flying antics keep things lively, while Tink’s Heelys and a pile of puppets add extra fun. There are some genius moments, such as the age-defying fountain of youth, and the ‘Indiana Jones’ style boulders bouncing over the audience. The pace zips along until the shout outs and sing off at the end, leaving the finale a touch flat. Still, it’s a cracking good time.

The music is directed by ‘Uncle’ Steve Markwick on piano, with Gordon Parrish on guitar and Chris Wyles on drums. The trio create a full, lively sound. A panto isn’t complete without song parodies, though not every number feels necessary – the over used ‘Anything You Can Do’ duet springs to mind, though this does allow Smee (Louise Cielecki) to show off her pipes. Some songs rely on rather simple word swaps, though the fish pun medley is a genuine hoot.

Set and costume design by Emily Bestow is a glitter laden gift with impressively detailed hand-painted sets. Costumes embrace DIY panto charm, with Hook’s enormous hat stealing the show. Aidan Good’s sound design could do with more balance, as the band overpowers the singers and Tinker Bell’s (Olivia Williamson) vocals struggle to cut through. That said, the varied use of sound effects and incidental music adds real sparkle. Henry Slater’s lighting design becomes increasingly playful with moments of real theatrical flair. Nancy Kettle’s choreography is suitably playful, keeping the action lively. Hannah Schlenker’s video design is slick and inventive, with some standout moments including the ‘Mario Kart’ style sequence. Puppets by Pavlov’s Puppets and Naomi Oppenheim are a delight.

Spargo’s Hook is the star of the show, brimming with all the charisma, swagger and camp flair befitting a panto villain. Spargo commands the stage with impeccable timing and sharp asides and is a joy to watch. Samuel Bailey’s Peter Pan brings infectious energy and a strikingly powerful voice. Nikita Johal’s Wendy matches this with a perky presence and equally impressive vocals. Alex Marshall’s mermaid is a surprise highlight, oozing unexpected charm. The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto.

If you’re pining for a pun-packed panto, ‘Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure’ is the one for you. Brimming with laughs for children and adults alike, it’s a glittering treat worth catching while you can.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Union Theatre

Reviewed – 8th October 2019

★★★★

“a spectacularly over-the-top production and a monumentally good time”

Whilst originally a Broadway show (based on the novel by Anita Loos) starring Carol Channing, it’s Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell’s killer pairing in the iconic 1953 film adaptation that’s kept this story live and kicking in the musical canon. Even if you haven’t seen it, you’re sure to be familiar with the glorious fuchsia-scarlet clash in Miss Monroe’s absurdly decadent number, ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’. Much like most of Marilyn’s back-catalogue, the play’s plot isn’t quite besides the point, but it’s third to the big showstopper numbers, and whoever has the daunting task of filling her inimitable shoes.

Lorelai (Abigayle Honeywill), a small town girl with a penchant for diamonds, has her eye set on a sugar daddy to provide her a life-time supply of the sparkling little gems. When her deep-pocketed fiancé (Aaron Bannister-Davies) catches wind of her sordid past, she feels certain that he’ll break off their engagement, so she immediately goes in search of a wealthy replacement, with the help of her friend and ‘chaperone’, Dorothy (Eleanor Lakin).

Honeywill is a perfect Marilyn type: white blonde, strikingly beautiful and a small hip wag away from charming most anyone out of their life savings. Presumably, though, she doesn’t want to be accused of merely playing Marylin rather than the character herself, so in an act of defiance she’s taken on this Lina Lamont-type nasal squeal. Whilst it proves comic at times, it’s not sustainable, particularly when singing. Honeywill has a beautiful singing voice and she can’t resist giving it her all, but she ends up sounding schizophrenic, swapping between a bold, sometimes husky tone to an insufferable screech, and back again.

The principals are all perfectly cast. Lakin’s Dorothy is brilliantly mocking and tongue-in-cheek, and Freddie King, playing Henry Spofford, finds an endearing balance between being charmingly artless and just plain charming. The chorus is brimming with triple threats, and it seems they’ve been as carefully cast as the main characters.

With the amazing Sasha Regan once again directing, the production is quite spectacular. With such a small stage, and the accompanying piano (Henry Brennan) and drums taking up a good chunk of it, it seems dangerous to have so many high-kicking, split-leaping, almost gymnastic dance numbers with a cast of eighteen. But choreographer Zak Nemorin seems determined to present the high production value that this show deserves, regardless of whether the drummer gets disturbingly close to getting kicked in the face on several occasions.

Justin Williams has cleverly pared the set right back so at least there are no tables and chairs for the chorus to break their necks on. Instead, a scarlet red carpet runs dramatically down the back wall and all the way to the front, preparing us for the big number we all know and love. Unfortunately, ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’ falls a little short when the time comes. The lighting (Hector Murray), though otherwise beautiful executed, on this occasion blacks out the red back-drop and simultaneously washes out Lorelei’s pink gown. The song itself is a little quiet and the only occasion during the entire production when I remember thinking the band could do with a couple of muted trumpets. This is the only disappointing number, and really only because the ‘53 version is so vivid.

What with the set not providing much atmosphere, the costumes (Penn O’Gara) certainly make up for it, with gorgeous silhouettes aplenty and fringe for days.

There’s an amazing amount of songs packed in (music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Leo Robin), and to ensure they’re all covered, the plot in the second half gets a little lost. But as I said, no-one’s here for a gripping twist, or an emotional think piece. We’re here for a spectacularly over-the-top production and a monumentally good time, and ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ delivers in spades.

PETER PAN: A PANTOMIME ADVENTURE

Greenwich Theatre

★★★★

“The whole cast is slick, confident and bursting with energy, driving this gloriously bonkers show with gusto”

PETER PAN: A PANTOMIME ADVENTURE

Greenwich Theatre

Reviewed on 5th December 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Greenwich Theatre

Shows most recently reviewed at this venue:

PETER PAN

PETER PAN

PETER PAN

Union Theatre

Reviewed – 8th October 2019

★★★★

“a spectacularly over-the-top production and a monumentally good time”

What with the set not providing much atmosphere, the costumes (Penn O’Gara) certainly make up for it, with gorgeous silhouettes aplenty and fringe for days.

Reviewed by Miriam Sallon

Photography by Mark Senior

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Union Theatre until 26th October

Previously reviewed at this venue:

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