Theatre
Todd McKenney to play Hook in Peter Pan panto
Todd McKenny is all set to join the cast of Bonnie Lythgoe’s Peter Pan pantomime as he prepares to take on the role of Hook.
The Perth entertainer says he’s actually looking forward to being booed every night as he takes on the prolific role in The Adventures of Peter Pan & Tinker Bell at Sydney’s State Theatre.
“I’m excited to play a villain,” McKenney told news.com.au. “I said ‘I’ll do this if you can guarantee I’m going to get booed when I walk on stage as Captain Hook’ and Bonnie said ‘oh you will, I’ll even start it myself’.
“I think getting legitimately booed will be great fun.
“I think baddies always have the most fun, I also get to play Mr Darling, which is the stuffy, toffee-nosed kind of English gentleman who becomes Captain Hook, so it’s two completely different characters.”
Bonnie Lythgoe with Todd McKenny
Lythgoe has produced several productions of Pan in the UK and US, with the role of Hook being previously played by David Hasselhoff and Henry Winkler, but this will be her first go at a pantomime version of Peter Pan.
She says, “I’ve been watching Todd for a long time and love him, he’s so vibrant and great. He can do everything. I was so nervous, he was the only one I wanted.”
The Adventures of Peter Pan & Tinker Bell opens at State Theatre, Sydney on 7 July, secure your tickets today via Ticketmaster.com.au.
