Peter Pan

Peter Pan has been a seasonal favourite production for almost 117 years - beloved of audiences over many generations. Wanneroo Repertory brings us this family classic, with updates for a modern audience.

For a modern audience some aspects of this treasured story have aged badly, so director Kathleen Del Casale has adapted the play in many ways. Amazon Warriors (very reminiscent of those in Wonder Woman) replace the “Indian tribe”, with  a strong leader Hippolyta who could easily dominate in battle, replacing both Tiger Lily and her father. Wendy is given more moxie and strength.

In the title role is Jacob Miles. Last year Jacob played Peter Llewellyn-Davies - who with his brothers was J. M. Barrie’s inspiration for Peter Pan - and a role for which he received great praise, including the Finley Award for Best Youth in a Play. Coming full circle in a sense to play Peter Pan, this was an interesting casting and he plays the role with gusto, youthful exuberance and joy.

Wendy is played with depth, understanding and bucket-loads of charm by Kaitlin Okely. While Peter Pan may be the boy who never grows up, Kaitlin Okely has much of his youthful spark, playing a prepubescent girl of fourteen or so absolutely convincingly at 27. Wendy’s brothers John and Michael are played with lovely camaraderie by Elliot Peacock and Grace Perks.

Captain Hook is a worthy adversary as played by Chris Thurmolt, who also plays Mr Darling in the traditional doubling. Kamara Churchill is a sympathetic and loveable Mrs Darling, a very caring mother - and doubles interestingly in a very different role - a very vain and dangerous mermaid - which raises some interesting questions about the expectations of adult women.

Tinkerbell is played with elegance and gumption by Grace Chen, dancing beautifully en-pointe. Peter’s band of lost boys are a likeable lot - good teamwork from Ethan Battle (Slightly), Gwendolyn Swift (Tootles), Lowri Bishop (Curly) and Sean Mudariki (Nibs).

This version’s pirates are not terribly threatening and all have distinct personalities - with lively performances from Blake Torrens (Jukes), Gabriella Kaden (Starkey), Jay-Kay Davies (Canary Rob) and Jake Battle (Smee). The brave Amazons are a force to be reckoned with and are well portrayed by leader Hippolyta (a strong Sarah Thillagaratnam), Mary Del Casale and Ferderica Longo. A band of fairies - Adriana Herrera, Emma Fleming and Ffion Bishop, complete the cast - with Wanneroo Repertory Club President Shelly McGinn providing a voice-over as the adult Wendy.

Daniel Toomath and Ventilation Productions give us an organic soundscape that envelopes the audience, even before the show begins. The show is lit with feel for adventure by Daniel Toomath, Paul King and Vince Haines, with the colourful set serving multiple locales well. 

Interesting to see a fresh take on a loved show and a feel-good show that is a great choice to end a difficult year.

Kimberley Shaw

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