I believe in Fairies!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately photography is not allowed inside the tent or during the performance! Even Keats could not paint a picture with poetic words enough to describe it. I feel as if I dreamt it, so real,so believable, yet so extraordinarily dream like it was. I most definitely went to Neverland. Without the aid of the Perrier Jouet at the bar!

There has always been something appealing about being the Mother to The Lost Boys. Whether watching the Disney cartoon, reading the book, watching "Hook" "Peter Pan" and "Finding Neverland"(My personal favourite) the empathy is the same. I'm sure Peter and the crew must melt most womens' hearts.

Though most of us also, I'm sure, had phases when we wanted to be the mermaid, the red Indian, and even one of the boys. Yes I can identify with Peter. Not all of us wanted to grow up so quick. And let's not forget Tinkerbell! I don't think I know of a single person who does not identify with the characters of this story on some level!

At times it can be devastating, it can be bubble bursting, a let down or a disappointment to see your favourite book on stage or adapted for a film. Directors and Egos cut and hack, twist and maim both plot and characters. They can ruin associations, and spoil all future re readings.

When we read we imagine, we project our own interpretations and experiences into the words and make places, people and events come to life. We design our own sets and props, we get lost in the magic that is fiction. Being a Matilda myself, as a child and even as a young adult, I lived vicariously through the local library's offerings. Even now I immerse myself in novels, travel back in time and "live" the action-becoming scarcely rouseable back to the here and now.

Seeing that "Peter Pan" was to be produced here in Kensington Gardens and with a vision of what I imagined it might be like, and bewitched by the website illustrations, my ever accommodating husband agreed to take the family for his birthday treat.

Whatever you have seen on Tv or read in the press, nothing can prepare you for this magnificent experience in the Magic Marquee! Words can not describe how this works. It is truly brilliant!

I can, however, try!

Images are projected like a movie in 360 degrees round the largest layer of the meringue of the marquee, so that when the characters fly, their journey appears as a cinematic effect,London and beyond moves rapidly before your eyes, you fly with them. The stage scenery is the same. You are on the pirate ship, under the sea, in Neverland. The actors are agile and balletic in their movements, flying appears graceful, natural and easy. No jerky amateurish wooshing of the pantomime.

The adult actors captured the child like movements and expressions, making you believe they were indeed children. The naughty Tinkerbell was unexpected and a real delight!

The performance mixes puppetry, ballet, acrobatics and cinema. Baby was absorbed, shaking his head in disbelief as Tinkerbell and Peter flew overhead, somersaulting and pirouetting in the dome above his head. He is quite the wriggler, and yet he behaved impeccably, fascinated and spellbound!

Happily I can inform you, that royalties still go to G.O.S.H. as J. M. Barrie desired, so not only are you indulging yourself in the escapist art of suspension of disbelief, getting in touch with your inner child and having a fabulous day- you are helping seriously ill children! I have added their donating link at the bottom of the post, should you be feeling generous.

Reader beware, however, the website, if you do decide to book! It directs you to what appears to be two choices, picnic or corporate. I checked twice, and could not find the "ticket only" option. So yes, I have had a baby recently, and yes, I was ditsy dumb at times even before that. But how could I have been so dippy?

We happily paid £30 each,( yes each,) for what we assumed was a ticket and a picnic under the "Picnic" option- It was for a Sunday and a Matinee, so that made perfect sense...... and on arrival discovered it was for a picnic only. Delicious as the picnic was and pretty the Cath Kidston cool bag, it was not worth £60. A rather shocked pair forked out another £70 for seats and a whopping £16.50 for an infant to sit on mummy's knee!!!! Lucky that we were to get last remaining "stand by" seats!!!

It turned out that it is best to ignore both the options, "picnic" and "corporate" and simply click the date you want. (Duh!) And we highly recommend you do. I defy anyone to be disappointed by this performance! It truly is a flight to Neveland and Back. I for one will be leaving my window open tonight, perchance some motherless child should be seeking a family. (Though perhaps I should discuss any "further additions" with hubby first??!)

http://www.visitlondon.com/peterpan/

http://www.gosh.org/donate/