Peter Pan in Bristol

Let it be said, Peter Pan is not a great panto story, in fact, in many ways, its not really a panto at all; no dame, no love interest, no broker's men ... so many of those traditional things we know and love simply not there ... add to that, in this production, a lack of a girl-in-tights and sparkly walk-down costumes and what you have is a very un-panto panto! So, in good EU ruling style, I'm not reviewing this as a panto but as a family Christmas show!

Now I have my frame of reference right I can start again .... what a great night out ... you see, it is all about perceptions and expectations!

The real surprise for me was just how much I enjoyed The Hoff! He seemed perfectly at home as Hook and played the evil, but vulnerable (!) character to its fullest ... a most enjoyable performance.

What was no surprise was how much I enjoyed Andy Ford .. why? Well, I always do, he has become a part of Christmas in Bristol for me - familiar old jokes and superbly cringeing new ones slide effortlessly into his performance which, as always, lifted the whole show and lit up the stage.

Robert Rees (Peter Pan) and Janine Esther Cowell (Wendy) do a splendid job and the kids really throw themselves into it. Peter's shadow works well, but Tinkerbell should, for me, just be a spot of light ... TV screens look just like that, screens :-(

In order to help the plot along, we are joined from time to time but a great chorus of singing lovelies - well done to them for bringing the songs to a show devoid of its own, natural sing alongs ...

A really good start to Christmas!