Review: Wendy: A Peter Pan Story, the egg, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘Sadly overladen and inconsistent’

I squirm when I have to steel myself to “be honest” about a production. It can’t be a good sign, can it?

Wendy is a well-meaning, girl-centred adaptation of Peter Pan. The problem – inherently – is that the themes of James Baldwin’s adaptation are more teenage angst and gritty kitchen sink than Disneyfied Edwardian nursery. And the two mix about as well as fresh orange juice in a glass of milk.

Wendy (Liana Cottrill) is 13. She’s a carer for both her mum (Rozelle Gemma) – who’s on strong meds – and her little brother (JoAnne Haines). Peter (Joseph Tweedale) – with sidekick Tinkerbell (troll-doll head on a slinky puppet, ably controlled by Alice Lamb) – appear to wreak mischief and all looks promising.

Joseph Tweedale as Peter and JoAnne Haines as Tootles

The problem is that Peter has chosen Wendy as his umpteenth mother-substitute and done so through lying to her about his intentions (her predecessors who said no have been dumped in the sea, transformed into cannibalistic mermaids). Peter is – as the teens would say – “toxic” and Tinkerbell is a confused bully.

You could do loads with this in a teenagers’ show, but this set-up isn’t the place for it. Why not? First of all, as a venue, the egg isn’t known for teenage work; it’s locally celebrated as a place for primary children. So a departure from that needs to be made boldly clear.

Liana Cottrill as Wendy

Our late December audience was largely primary age and infants – exactly what you’d expect at an egg Christmas show, in fact. Remembering Christmas tradition, the show delivers panto kiddy-pleasers like raspberry-farts, slapstick, and physical comedy. But also techo music, graphic novels, a giant video gaming metaphor and some game-style lighting effects (projection design Chris Harrisson; light design, Joe Price).

The result is that the show is heavily overladen with too much “stuff”, making it confused and inconsistent because it’s trying to please everyone. Great ideas (like Tink’s insecure bullying nature) are under-explored; some ideas are left far too ambiguous to make any modern woman comfortable (“mums are sacred!”) and there’s far too much I’d have been cross about if I’d taken a child under 10.

Joseph Tweedale as Peter and Liana Cottrill as Wendy

Who fancies explaining songs about how “you are enough” and lines like “you’re so desperate to be in control” and “your jealousy will kill you”? Although I was worried that during Tinkerbell’s truly distressingly spluttery death, we’d have children bursting into tears, my 12-year old reassured me that would never happen: “nobody cared enough”.

Jenny Davies’ direction is good, Alisha Fields’ set design is excellent, and the cast gamely work through this very wordy and chewy show. But ultimately – very sadly – it’s not one I’d recommend unless you want your children confused (and worried!) about the teenage world of boy/girl friendships.

Liana Cottrill as Wendy and Rozelle Gemma as Hook

Wendy: A Peter Pan Story is at the egg, Theatre Royal Bath until January 13; show times vary. Tickets are available at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.

All photos: Camilla Adams

Read more: Review: Five Children and It, The Egg, Theatre Royal Bath

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