Giles Woodforde on this festive panto production starring Joe Pasquale

Pantos are big, brash, and loud at the Northampton Derngate, and this year’s Peter Pan is no exception.

The Dame must explode onto the stage too, and Ceri Dupree certainly does that. A specialist female impersonator (I’m told his Madonna is a wow), Dame Dupree gets a new frock for every single entrance as Ms Smee (call her Mrs and she gets right snappity). Her hats are a wonder too – several of them appear to be the height of three-story buildings.

All those frocks and hats are typical of a show that has very high production values. Big, sparkly sets and all the other costumes combine to make a colourful stage spectacle that looks brand new, rather than just recycled from use somewhere else last year. The ensemble dance routines look sharp and fresh too (chore-ographer Jonny Bowles), and there’s an excellent chorus of local children, who deliver their material with zest and enthusiasm.

Headlining the show is Joe Pasquale, who certainly knows how to get an audience going in the cavernous Derngate auditorium — he previously starred there in Jack and the Beanstalk. This time round he plays Ms Smee’s son, and finds himself thrown into all sorts of undignified situations. He sends himself up neatly when his own trademark high-pitched voice rises still further as the result of an unfortunately placed spike rising through a cushion. But sadly there’s also some downright smut, unfunny hands-on manipulation of other people’s faces to give them stupid expressions, and an overlong water spitting sequence. You end up feeling that Smee is a distinctly grubby character.

Thoroughly wholesome, however, are Amy Beadel’s Wendy and Ross Carpenter’s Peter. They fly smoothly away to encounter Alex Giannini’s lip-smacking, properly malevolent Captain Hook, and quite the largest crocodile you’re ever likely to see.

Peter Pan 
Royal & Derngate, Northampton
Until January 4
Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811