Peter Pan, Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

THE last time Peter Pan was staged in Bournemouth it was an ice show featuring breath-taking, choreographed skating and spectacular flying with mid-air sword fights.

This is a rather more grounded show that steadily paces its way through J M Barrie’s original tale without deviating into some of the traditional panto elements we have come to expect.

The lack of any serious slapstick, or raucous audience participation, may disappoint some.

But the show focuses on creating the enchantment and wonder of Never Never Land, home to Peter, the little boy who would never grow up, a roller-skating fairy Tinkerbell, pirates, Indians, Lost Boys, mermaids... and a crocodile.

Unfortunately, a technical fault meant Peter – played so perfectly by Barney Harwood of CBBC’s Prank Patrol and Basil’s Swap Shop – was unable to fly over the audience sprinkling magic fairy dust on the press night, which would have been the highlight of the show.

However, there was still plenty of flying on stage with the best sequence featuring cinematic projections of the London sky.

Gemma Hunt, also of CBBC fame, brought her own unique sparkle to the role of Tinkerbell – a fairy with serious attitude.

And Gary Turner, from Emmerdale, was a suitably menacing and scary Hook.

EastEnders fans would have particularly enjoyed the comic input of Richard Elis (Huw in the BBC soap) as Smee.

He even joined the fantastic comedy acrobats The Nitwits who, as the Pirate crew, performed some hilarious, fast-moving jumps and summersaults that had us in stitches.

Bournemouth’s panto-favourite Maria Rice-Mundy, meanwhile, swapped her usually glamorous roles for that of the mother, Mrs Darling.

A chorus of young dancers from Bournemouth’s Stage Door School of Dance and Drama and Stagewise provided some of the most exciting scenes.

The show boasts fabulous costumes and sets and a score that pays tribute to many great musicals – from Mary Poppins to Oliver, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to We Will Rock You.

The very few current cultural references were superb.

For instance, when Peter asks Hook if he has any last requests, he answers: “Yes, I would like them to reopen my Christmas Lapland in Matchams Park.”

Lapland may feel like a distant dream but Never Never Land is right here on our doorstep!