Review by Karen Wyatt-Epapara | karen@dorsetview.co.uk

The poster promised a show awash with swash and buckle, and it certainly delivered.

The Further Adventures of Peter Pan – The Return of Captain Hook was a hilarious pantomime romp with traditional characters and skits brought up-to-date with topical jokes.

The story begins years after Peter Pan defeated Captain Hook, who was believed to have been eaten by his nemesis, the crocodile. Instead, Captain Hook managed to escape to a desert island where he spent years plotting his revenge. He returns with an evil plan and it’s up to Peter, Tinkerbell, Wendy’s great-great-granddaughter Emily and their friends to save the day.

Top-billed Shaun Williamson, best known for playing Barry in Eastenders, was imposing as Captain Hook, playing up to the audience in his baddie role.

Mr Smee has left behind his pirating days and now runs the Jolly Roger as a pleasure cruiser. He is forced to rejoin Captain Hook but works behind his back to help Peter. He is played by local comedian Noel Brodie, whose deadpan delivery had the audience in stitches.

Children and parents in the audience would be familiar with David Ribi, from Channel 5’s Milkshake!, as Peter Pan and Holly Atterton, from Nick Jnr’s Go!Go!Go!, as Tinkerbell, but both have also had roles in West End and touring productions and it showed with their strong vocal and acting performances. The same could be said for Sarah Jane Buckley, formerly in Hollyoaks, who played Mrs Darling and Mermaid. Ruth Betteridge as Emily Darling was excellent, with especially strong vocal performances.

A highlight was the pirate gang, played by The Nitwits, whose comedy acrobatics were funny and impressive in equal measure.

The script featured favourite pantomime elements such as slapstick comedy and the obligatory ‘it’s behind you’, ‘oh no, it isn’t’, ‘oh yes, it is’ scenes yet, while seasoned panto lovers would almost be able to talk along with the script, the delivery from this cast gave them a fresh feel.

Audience participation was at pre-Covid levels, but there was no opportunity for children to go up on the stage as is traditional, and was a stark reminder that many of those involved in the production would have struggled for work during the past couple of years.

For many, this would have been the first trip back to live theatre since the start of the pandemic, and what a fun-filled, celebratory way to do so.