November 6, 2007
By Tabisa Mntengwana
"GREETINGS everyone. The crew of Neverland brings Christmas greetings to everyone in Joburg." With these words, Clementina Coconut welcomes everyone to Peter Pan – The Pantomime.
JM Barrie's famous tale of the boy who never grew up has been given Janice Honeyman's traditional twist and some local flavour, with the Lost Boys hailing from Kensington. South African actors and a score filled with hip-hop, pop, R&B, and rock 'n roll hits, Kaapse Klopse tunes, Christmas carols and Jacaranda FM jingles, add to the magic.
Opening with the tunes Winter Wonderland and Jingle Bell Rock, we are transported to the everyday hustle and bustle of the streets of London. The Darling family is just another family busy with daily chores, but there is more in store for them than their neighbours can expect.
Nana, the dog, is the first to notice something is amiss. She barks at the window as a little boy dressed all in green flies by, but nobody else sees him. It is Peter Pan, played by Dewald Louw, on a mission to find a mother for his gang of Lost Boys – and Wendy Darling is the girl chosen for the mission.
A pirate's life: Vusi Kunene as Smee and Tobie Cronje as Captain Hook in the Civic Theatre's panto Peter Pan
Wendy and her brothers, John and Michael, are up for the challenge, and off they fly to Neverland. Sadly, this sets Tinkerbell, until now Peter Pan's constant female companion, into a jealous rage and she sets the Lost Boys to kill Wendy. Hell hath no fury, as they say.
It's not Peter Pan's only problem, however. Across town Captain Hook (Tobie Cronje) is plotting to take over Neverland by killing Princess Tiger Lily, its rightful ruler. And pirate wife Clementina Coconut sets off on an adventure holiday in the hope of finding her errant husband.
The scene is set, the story is under way, and then a helicopter lands, bringing some unexpected guests – Father and Mother Christmas. But they've just dropped by to deliver some parcels before interval.
Some 20 minutes later Tinkerbell has had a change of heart and revives Wendy. Taking on the mantle of young mother with aplomb, she sings to her little Lost Boys, while Captain Hook plots and schemes his murderous takeover.
But it is not to be; the good guys always win, you know. Peter Pan and his gang defeat the evil pirate, Princess Tiger Lily is saved, Clementina finds her husband, the Darling family is reunited, and a rousing singalong gets the audience on their feet.
Expect songs by Beyonce, Shakira, Freshlyground and R Kelly. The cast includes Kim Cloete as Princess Tiger Lily, Mortimer Williams as Clementina Coconut, Lindo Sithole as Lost Boy Curly, Niall Griffin as Lost Boy Tootles, and Hlubi Mboya as Tinkerbell.
Wendy Darling is played by Vanessa Harris; John and Michael Darling are played by Matt Counihan and Jaco van Rensburg; Mrs Darling is played by Marisa Bosman; and Nana is played by Stefan Carstens.
Vusi Kunene is pirate Smee and Andrew Webster is pirate Starkey.
Peter Pan – The Pantomime is on at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre's Nelson Mandela stage until 30 December. Tickets are priced from R85 to R195; they are available at Computicket outlets, on 083 915 8000, or online on the Computicket website. There are discount rates for groups of 10 or more.
For more information contact the theatre on 011 877 6800.
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