Theatre Review: Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Wales Millennium Centre

Summary

Rating: ★★★★★  

Running Dates: Monday 22nd January - Saturday 27th January  

Where to see it: Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff  

Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes (including interval)  

Keywords: Comedy, Farce, Mischief Theatre

Review

‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’ is a unique and delightful twist on J.M. Barrie's classic tale, the delightful romp of a show that proves to be a true comedy of errors. In this production of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, everything that could possibly go wrong, does…  

The brilliance of ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’ lies in its commitment to the comedy of errors theme. The actors masterly maintained their personas amidst the collapsing sets, flubbed lines, and misplaced props, adding a layer of meta-theatrical humour that was both surprising  and refreshing. From the beginning, the production turned into a masterclass in comedy, with  actors tripping over misplaced props, getting stuck in malfunctioning sets, and flubbing their  lines in the most hilarious ways. The acting was highly commendable, with each performer  fully committed to their role, no matter how absurd the situation. Their ability to stay in  character, despite the mayhem unfolding around them, was truly impressive.  

The set, designed to fall apart spectacularly, was a character of its own. Its unpredictability added an extra layer of hilarity to the proceedings. The cast's attempts to work around the set malfunctions resulted in some of the funniest moments in the play. The set design deserves special mention. In ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’, the set is not merely a backdrop but becomes a character, contributing to the comedy with its unpredictable behaviour. 

However, the play is not just about laughs. It's also a testament to the spirit of theatre and the resilience of actors. Despite the numerous setbacks, the cast's determination to carry on and deliver the best performance they can was inspiring.  

In conclusion, ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’ is a wonderfully entertaining play that offers a unique twist on a classic story. Its humour, directed at an audience of various ages, offers a night full of  laughs and unexpected surprises that make for a memorable theatre experience. It's a  wonderful reminder of the magic of theatre and the joy of a performance that doesn't go quite as planned.

Standout Quote or Moment: One of the standout moments from the play is when the set begins to fall apart, causing chaos and hilarity among the actors. Despite the disastrous  circumstances, the actors continue with their performance, adding an extra layer of comedy to the already humorous play.  

Similar Plays: The most comparable is certainly ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ - another farcical disaster by the same creators as ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’. This play centers around an amateur production of a murder mystery that goes hilariously wrong.  

Last Impression: ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ is a fantastic way to spend the night, it is extremely contagious as it kept the audience laughing from start to end... Not to miss! 

Written by Roberta