Review: Peter Pan at Birmingham Hippodrome

Beg, borrow, or steal a ticket for this year’s panto at the Hippodrome — Peter Pan is a 100% nuthouse classic.

 Of course, it has solid something-list celebs in force: Wolverhampton comedian Meera Syal is a Magical Mermaid, Jimmy Osmond is Captain Hook, and  Jaymi Hensley — The X Factor warbler — is Mr Pan. But the show-stealer, as ever, is Matt Slack, the perennial panto standout who gets the crazed ball rolling and never lets up. It’s his show, his sixth straight in Brum, and he jokes, sings, mugs, dances, ad-libs his heart out, delivers outrageous schtick and leaves the audience begging for more.

Director Michael Harrison willingly throws in a lot of effects for good measure. There's a 50-foot flying crocodile, loads of zooming aerial stuff and a guitar that explodes with fireworks. Who wants any more? Okay, the plot bears little resemblance to the original JM Barrie story and Jimmy O  is just not nasty enough as Hook for us. But young Hensley’s got top tenor pipes as he flies around the place,  and Our Meera, Black Country to her lurex fishtail, is a sweetie as the mermaid.  Plus mum, dad, kiddies and even weird uncle Dave will leave the Hippo laughing their brand new novelty Crimbo socks off, with a song in their hearts and a blue joke or two still ringing in their ears.  If you can find an even vaguely small person to entertain, take them to this one.

Until January 27. Tickets