The only thing as enjoyable as watching perfection is watching a complete train wreck. Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong is as wacky and chaotic, as it is intelligent and polished. Only something this thought out and meticulously put together can produce such an uproarious “disaster” of a show. This two-act play is a hilarious delight, and includes a couple of emotionally uplifting subplots as well. And on top of all this, the show is as visually pleasing as it is funny.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong is a play within a play (think of Noises Off). At the start of the performance, we learn that it’s opening night of the fictitious Cornley Drama Society’s production of Peter Pan. The Society has a terrible track record of putting on shows. Their previous production of Oliver! ended in disaster, and Jack and the Bean (there wasn’t budget for a beanstalk) didn’t fare well either. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t look like Peter Pan will offer much promise. For starters, the Society’s directors Chris (Andrew Macdonald-Smith) and Robert (Chris Cochrane) are clearly not on the same page. In fact, Robert keeps insisting tonight’s show is a pantomime, which Chris vehemently refutes.

There are a couple of worries that Chris and Robert disclose to the audience before the play begins: The actor playing Michael (Alexander Ariate) can’t remember lines and will therefore have his lines read to him through a headset; and a little girl by the name of Lucy (I think she’s someone’s niece? She’s played by Rochelle Laplante) suffers from chronic stage fright, yet is being forced to play Tootles.

The cast of Peter Pan Goes Wrong — Photo credit: Eric Kozakiewicz

Once the “play” begins, it’s immediately obvious that the show is dreadfully directed and performed, and literally every piece of the set is an extreme safety hazard. There’s an interesting array of personalities in the “cast” as well. The actress playing Wendy (Alexandra Brynn) is precocious and ready to shine, while the actor playing John (Oscar Derkx) dreams of playing Peter Pan and has a very strong crush on another cast member. The actor playing Peter Pan (Jamie Cavanagh) seems competent enough, but it’s questionable what he really is like under his visage.

Annie (Belinda Cornish) plays Mrs. Darling, Liza, Tinkerbell, and Curly, and we see her rush from quick change to quick change. Meanwhile, Ariante’s character’s headset signals loudly and distracts every time he’s fed a line. And unsurprisingly, Lucy has not magically gotten over her chronic stage fright.

To add to the mix, directors Chris and Robert are in the show themselves. Chris plays Mr. Darling and Captain Hook (as is the way it’s traditionally done in Peter Pan), and Robert plays the absurd combination of Nana, Peter Pan’s shadow, and one of the pirates. Chris tries to hold the show together, and visibly shows his frustration every time something goes wrong (which is all the time). Robert has a tendency to put himself into unfortunate situations that continually harms the show even more.

What makes this show even more wonderfully ridiculous, is that despite how incompetent the fictional Cornely Drama Society is, the company apparently has the creative design budget of a Broadway spectacular. The show is a visual treat, and there’s no reason why it should look this amazing, which adds to the humour. Simon Scullion’s set, which cleverly uses a revolving stage, includes a picturesque turn-of-the 20th century bedroom for the kids; a beautiful London night scene complete with Big Ben; a lush fairy-like forest; a serene lagoon; and a simply stunning pirate ship set.

Roberto Surace’s costumes are excellent and infused with humour. An example of the excellence: Captain Hook’s costume is handsome and incredibly detailed. Examples of the humour: One of the pirates has a comical looking fake leg and carries a stuffed parrot; Cochrane wears black jazz shoes when playing Nana and Peter Pan’s shadow; and the narrator Francis (April Banigan) wears a ridiculous costume that to me, looks like a Christmas present.

There’s some fun choreography here too, thanks to choreographer Christine Bandelow. One highlight is a big production number, where for some reason Wendy dances with pompoms. In terms of all the “missteps” in the show, the movement of all the actors is incredibly calculated, which of course, is necessary for everything to be done safely. Yet it’s all done in way that still makes everything look convincingly accidental.

The chaos that erupts during the climax of the show is a spectacular display of well-choreographed slapstick and superb use of the space. This section must have taken an enormous amount of time and effort to stage, because every single movement and its timing is impeccable. And I’d be remised if I didn’t emphasize how risky and impressive the movement in this show is, including the flying!

Some standout performances include those of Derkx, whose earnestness makes him a sweet underdog hero to cheer for; MacDonald-Smith whose commanding presence and powerful voice make him a terrific Captain Hook and Mr. Darling; Brynn, who has delightful poise, and moves and dances wonderfully; and Laplante, whose portrayal of the mistreated Lucy provides the show with another welcomed hero to root for.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong is the property of Mischief Theatre, a UK-based theatre company founded by a group of former students of the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. The show was previously performed in London’s West End, and we should count ourselves lucky that we get to see it here in Vancouver at the Stanley Theatre, before it moves onto bigger platforms, such as Broadway. This presentation is a co-production with Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, and as such, the cast and creative team are a blend of accomplished Vancouver and Edmonton theatre professionals.

There’s a strong UK presence here too, including the show’s writers Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields; directors Fred Gray and Adam Meggido; and set and costume designers Scullion and Surace. As a result, we have a fantastic compilation of talent that gives the show not only the slick, first-rate quality we’ve come to expect from Arts Club, but also a fresh, exciting look and feel.

I was personally having a bleak day when I attended opening night last week, and this riotous, highly entertaining show was exactly what I needed to life my spirits. In addition to the show’s humour, there’s a nice overarching message, based on what Derkx’s character goes through: Sh*t happens, but be a good person and somehow you’ll come through. I love this message and I love this show.

The Arts Club Theatre Company’s Peter Pan Goes Wrong, property of The Mischief Theatre, and presented in collaboration with The Citadel Theatre, plays at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage until October 16, 2022. Visit the Arts Club website for information.