Ella Hickson’s re-imagined Wendy is a 13-year-old girl grieving for her own lost boy – her little brother Tom.
She travels to Neverland with Peter and her two brothers in the hope of finding him – but instead discovers herself and sisterhood. As a young boy, J M Barrie himself lost his own brother. The playwright has cleverly intertwined the author’s own experiences in her feminist reinterpretation of the classic children’s story, creating a fourth Darling brother and doing away with Nana, the Newfoundland dog.
Unlike Matilda, the children in the RSC’s new family show are all played by adult actors. Fiona Button is a charming, courageous Wendy, who realises that having an adventure of her own is more fun than mending socks, cooking breakfast and playing mother.
Every female character in Barrie’s original book tries to kill Wendy but in Hickson’s new version they band together. Michelle Asante’s cool urban cross-bow shooting Tiger Lily is a female lone ranger; while Charlotte Mills streetwise Tink in her pink tutu is the opposite of a Disney fairy – more robust and sounding like a young Kathy Burke.
Set in the context of the Suffragette movement, Hickson also fleshes out Mr and Mrs Darling’s relationship; re-examining the roles of the sexes within an Edwardian marriage.
Jonathan Mundy’s superb production includes incredible physical theatre and stunning flying scenes. When she has been shot by Lost Boy Tootles, Wendy slides down white silks from the gallery. Peter Pan has six shadows, who mimic his every move and lift him up to perform some cool circus acrobatics. The crocodile is impressively played by Lion King actor Arthur Kyeyune.
Sam Swann’s wide-eyed Peter with his quiff perfectly captures the energy, and mischievousness of the boy who never wants to grow up. His four Lost Boys include Skins’ actor Will Merrick.
Elegant in teal velvet fitted coat, bandana and nail varnish, Guy Henry is outstanding as Captain Hook, a beguiling ex-boozer suffering from the shakes, in search of his own lost youth.
Jolyon Coy had me in stitches throughout as Wendy’s public schoolboy brother John who, when his sister begs to join in a game of battle in the bedroom, says: “Fine you can be the damsel and that’s all”.
A magical picture book set, designed by award-winning Colin Richmond, opens in the Darlings’ cosy nursery - overhanging mobiles ingeniously turn into flying harness hooks - the Lost Boys’ Neverland home is a chaotic underground lair while The Jolly Roger is pretty much a full-size galleon that sails onstage.
Wendy and Peter is riotous fun, heart-meltingly poignant, without being sentimental, and warmly funny. The RSC surely has another big hit on its hands. Runs until March 2.
