Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Stanley Tucci, Laura Fraser, Paloma Faith, Zak Sutcliffe, Hazel Doupe, Rasmus Hardiker, Maurice Cole, Asim Chaudhey, Bjarne Henriksen, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Natifa Mai,Patrick Williams, Stephen Agnew, Laura Elphinstone.
The Christmas schedule is such that it falls deeply into the realms of asking the viewer to remember others and the tireless work they do, it is a noble act but one in which many will find themselves just having on in the background in between munching on the last mince pie or playing a game with the children.
One such programme that deserves the attention was the specially made for television adaption of the story of Peter Pan and Peter and Wendy, a tale of a young heart patient rediscovering the joys of J.M. Barrie’s work is to be applauded.
Whilst Peter Pan will always be the hero of the tale, there is an argument that the role of Captain Hook is as equally important to the narrative as the boy who wouldn’t grow up, to play such a role takes an actor of absolute gravitas and command, one willing to bow to the dislike of children everywhere but to whom can rise above the bête-noir and become something tangible, something outlandish and the be forever on the verge of being redeemable. Dustin Hoffman projected such quality in the 1991 Hook, and following on from that Stanley Tucci grasps that fine line between despicable and old roguish charm with great sentimental value. By twisting the tale so that he is not only the old foe of Peter Pan but also playing the part of the surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital where Lucy is having a heart operation, the team behind this adaption not only remain faithful to J.M. Barrie’s wonderful tale but add that juxtaposition that to children, hospitals can be daunting places and in the greatest of imaginations, health of the mind is as important as wellness of the body.
With Paloma Faith being given almost free reign in the part of Tinkerbell and Rasmus Hardiker catching the essence of Smee, this television adaption of Peter and Wendy was one in which tugged hard at the heartstrings and brought back into sharp focus the great work carried out by the staff of Great Ormond Street Hospital everyday of the year. A generous and very giving television production, one that would not have gone unnoticed as stage production with its attention to detail and fascinating use of scene and props as lucid dreaming and illness were explored.
Peter and Wendy is arguably the one television programme this Christmas which having a good cry over is essential.
Ian D. Hall