Classical dancers know all about trying to fly, it comes with the training. So even though there is little art and no real soul in Atlanta Ballet's Peter Pan, the moments when its cast get airborne are charged with genuine wonder.
Of course, the wires which whisk Pan and the Darling children across the stage can be plainly seen. But the reflex cynicism of my own kids turned to open-mouthed envy when it turned out that Pan (John Walker) wasn't just dangling from a bit of string, but using all his technical expertise to twist and flutter and cruise with the nonchalance of a swallow. All those gravity-defying illusions which dancers sweat to attain were magically achieved at the tug of a wire.
The rest of the production, choreographed by Atlanta's director John McFall, is less enthralling but, because it moves at a pace and delivers its story simply and without pretension, it is effortlessly easy to enjoy. While there are treats for junior ballet junkies - a dainty fairy solo for Tinkerbell, a big dance number for Tiger Lily and her friends and some lyrical pas de deux for Peter and Wendy - there's always some diverting stage business to cater to rowdier tastes.
The Lost Boys have a larky line in comic parody and macho street dance, and the absolute hit of the evening is the crocodile. Despite his reptilian casing, Steven Salter frequently steals the limelight with his funky strut and dapper tango moves, inserting a useful element of endearing, leering panto villain into the whole proceedings.
However, his sparring partner Captain Hook (Wei Dongsheng) disappointingly fails to match him for comic menace. In fact, he and his fellow Pirates are far too tame to inject any tension into the production. An acting coach would have improved the whole cast no end. Yet despite being over two hours long, the show kept everyone in the audience happy, even its tiniest members. Peter Pan may be far less grand and lovely than The Nutcracker but it actually works for all the family.
Until January 8. The box office is on 0171-960 4242
