A full house of everyone from the very young and seasoned theatre-goers gathered at the Artscape, some of us (me) having no idea what to expect. But within seconds, it was impossible to not get lost in the fairy dust and be transported high speed to Neverland.
It's obvious as the lights illuminate the opening scene that the ice skaters are as they say they are: world, European and national championship-level skaters. They take what seems to be nail-biting risks to the average pedestrian, skating within centimetres of the edge of the stage and using their bodies to tell the classic story. There’s flying and dancing, looping, throwing, jumping and twisting in what could have been an extended Olympic performance.
I was lucky enough to take my six-year-old along who is a massive fan of Peter Pan, the lost boys and, of course, Captain Hook and the Crocodile. He couldn’t take his eyes off the stage as Tinkerbell twirled, Peter Pan flew high above the ice and best of all the oversized Crocodile danced to an electro beat and psychedelic video backdrop. And any doubt in his mind about whether magic is real was quickly death-dropped into a camel spin as impressive athletic ability, perfectly orchestrated music and effects and passionate performers turned every second into a moment.
The cast enchanted us for both acts and beyond. If you weren’t laughing at the Crocodile or in awe of the ring of fire circling the lost boys or dazzled by the acrobatics tossed throughout the show, you have undoubtedly grown up too soon. Well worth the trip to the Artscape, don’t be surprised when you’re offering a standing ovation to an outstanding cast and performance.
A fairy-tale for the whole family, pay homage to an ingenious twist on the classic story at Peter Pan on Ice and watch true magic come alive.
