Peter Pan - A Success in so many ways!

DVD Night - Friday 6th November - See details

"Peter Pan is a wonderful fantacy adventure - it has everything that children living during the Victorian Age would have loved (and that children of today still do): indians, pirates, mermaids, fairies amd plenty of excitement"

Director - Mary Rose McLaren

Peter Pan Review in the Ballarat Courier - Saturday 17th October 2009

Peter Pan Delights

It is the the singing and dancing which are the strengths of BLOC Music Theatre's Junior Production of 'Peter Pan'. Based on J.M.Barrie's classic 'Neverland' adventure, this British musical offers great opportunities for this young and vibrant cast.

BLOC's policy of mounting Junior shows, provides Ballarat's aspiring music theatre under sixteen year olds with an early experience and the training which will generate performers for future adult productions of which Ballarat is so justly proud.

Under the sure guidance of Director Mary-Rose McLaren, Choreographer Carly Scott, Musical Director Jason Hubble and Choral Director Rhiannon Pike, these 51 local bundles of young talent are having the best time.

The singing of Madeleine Craven's boyishly exuberant 'Peter' and Madelyn Ludbrook's demure but authoritative 'Wendy' set the bar for other soloists. The rollicking nasty pasty of Robert Muirhead as 'Captain Hook', the dapper twit of Patrick Shaw's 'Mr. Darling', the constant care of Beth McKay's 'Mrs Daring' all reach that bar and go beyond it.

There is comedy aplenty, led by the inventive glee of Jack Richardson's 'Smee' and Luke Wilson's 'Starkey', with several cute punch lines in the capable hands of Fergus McLaren as the pajama clad little brother 'Michael'.

Other characters who add to the magic include James Kernick as the nerdy 'John', Patrice Flynn as 'Nana' the Darling's wonderdog and Louis Stephenson as the 'Indian Chief'. His leap in the air spectacular. The playing of Olivia Herderson as 'Tinkerbell' and Miranda Roscoe as 'Peter's Shadow' is both innovative and charming.

'Braves to War' which opens the second act is a dance highlight. No mere routine this, but a study in contemporary movement which avoids cliche.

Eight young musicians provide the various styles of the score with verve, gaining early experience of playing in the pit.

There are many quick costume changes for most of the cast as they play multiple roles in the bright and beautiful clothes the BLOC wardrobe team has created from Martel Hunt's colourful designs.

Josh Noble has created simple but effective sets which complement the action of the show on the difficult stage at Founders Theatre.

It is the work of 108 people behind the scenes and the support of patient parents which are vital to the success of this community event.

The short season of four performances opens on Friday 16th October at 8pm, with a matinee at 2pm and 8pm show on Saturday 17th and the closing matinee at 2pm on Sunday 18th.

Peter Tulloch

Director/Designer