Post by westended on Jan 4, 2024 21:52:48 GMT
Paid a visit to the Palladium last night to see Peter Pan. To sum it up: it needs a refresh. Obviously it wasn't bad as it's the Palladium (it just can't be bad), but it could be so much better when compared to the previous pantomimes Crossroads has produced at the venue. I'll break down my thoughts a little further below.
I'm not sure if this is just me, but I felt like there may have been some budget cuts this year? The set felt like it was a little lacking this year, with some scenes looking great, and some others not so great visually (the Mermaid's Lagoon was an example of this for me). Additionally I don't really feel the effects were anything to rave about like they have been in previous years. The various crocodiles that feature are all relatively old stock of The Twins FX and the end of Act One sequence was ok, but nothing new. The "revolutionary" new flying effect the Twins described didn't really hit the mark. Being sat in Row G of the Royal Circle, you could easily see how it's executed. Another point is that it's Peter Pan...and there was hardly any flying at all really, apart from the small sequence towards the beginning. Costumes were great all round however.
Musically speaking, some of the medley/mashups were a bit strange. Again, perhaps budget cuts? Many songs featured were from past catalogues of Crossroads' other regional Peter Pan productions and some quirky choices of arrangements of pop songs (beginning of Act 2 for example), didn't really feel like they fit in with the show and were just pulled from a catalogue and plonked into the show to fill out time. Rob Madge's medley was a nice message, but it again didn't really feel like those songs fit together as well as other options could have. Their Act 2 number was a highlight for me though.
Zerdin didn't look like he wanted to be there. His scenes were almost predictable line after line, with the same jokes used year on year on year. The Neverlanders featured so little...what was the point in them being there? Gary Wilmot didn't have as much to do as previous years, neither did Nigel Havers. His plot line of being old is getting far too old now....
Highlight for me were of course the ensemble who always work so hard, as well as Louis and Frances who both have great voices!
By far the best thing about the show is of course Julian Clary. Without him, I doubt the Panto's Residency would have lasted as long as it has. New material is always a breath of fresh air, and his number about Paul was touching. He is certainly the star of the show and is miles above the rest of the cast!
All in all, the show needs a big mix up. Hopefully the 2024-25 show will live up to the expectation that so many of us have, which sadly the show may have missed this year.
I'm not sure if this is just me, but I felt like there may have been some budget cuts this year? The set felt like it was a little lacking this year, with some scenes looking great, and some others not so great visually (the Mermaid's Lagoon was an example of this for me). Additionally I don't really feel the effects were anything to rave about like they have been in previous years. The various crocodiles that feature are all relatively old stock of The Twins FX and the end of Act One sequence was ok, but nothing new. The "revolutionary" new flying effect the Twins described didn't really hit the mark. Being sat in Row G of the Royal Circle, you could easily see how it's executed. Another point is that it's Peter Pan...and there was hardly any flying at all really, apart from the small sequence towards the beginning. Costumes were great all round however.
Musically speaking, some of the medley/mashups were a bit strange. Again, perhaps budget cuts? Many songs featured were from past catalogues of Crossroads' other regional Peter Pan productions and some quirky choices of arrangements of pop songs (beginning of Act 2 for example), didn't really feel like they fit in with the show and were just pulled from a catalogue and plonked into the show to fill out time. Rob Madge's medley was a nice message, but it again didn't really feel like those songs fit together as well as other options could have. Their Act 2 number was a highlight for me though.
Zerdin didn't look like he wanted to be there. His scenes were almost predictable line after line, with the same jokes used year on year on year. The Neverlanders featured so little...what was the point in them being there? Gary Wilmot didn't have as much to do as previous years, neither did Nigel Havers. His plot line of being old is getting far too old now....
Highlight for me were of course the ensemble who always work so hard, as well as Louis and Frances who both have great voices!
By far the best thing about the show is of course Julian Clary. Without him, I doubt the Panto's Residency would have lasted as long as it has. New material is always a breath of fresh air, and his number about Paul was touching. He is certainly the star of the show and is miles above the rest of the cast!
All in all, the show needs a big mix up. Hopefully the 2024-25 show will live up to the expectation that so many of us have, which sadly the show may have missed this year.