By now you’ve probably heard that PETER PAN has been flying around City Hall Plaza since October. No–this isn’t some kind of wisecrack. It’s simply true–and it’s a unique theatrical production of J.M. Barrie’s little boy who wouldn’t grow up. I saw it awhile ago– and some of it is quite thrilling– and some of it is quite baffling and boring.
The show is staged in the round under a huge 1300 seat tent and features 23 actors, puppets, music, flying sequences with CGI projections– and this is the most sensational part– to see these actors whizzing around overhead with the globe’s scenery whirling by– 400 square miles of virtual London I’m told–you really feel taken away! It is the world’s first fully 360-degree projected movie for live theater performance.
The rest of the set is earthbound in every way– perfunctory and minimal. And at least two of the actors are wonderful– especially Emily Yetter as a feisty funny Tinker Bell who cracked me up and really connected with the audience! And Evelyn Hoskins as a very believable Wendy. Peter (Chuck Bradley) took some getting used to –he seemed a bit coarser than I would have liked, though he grew on me. But the rest of the boys are just too OLD!!
And then there are the puppets– Nana is too small and insignificant. There’s also an ostrich with not much to do, and the Croc who is less that fearsome. Captain HOOK is not scary, and the show lacks dramatic magic– which the flying sequences and the CGI are supposed to make up for. You’ll have to decide if they do for you–I felt like something was missing– but the kids around me seemed entranced by all the aerial hi-jinks.
You have ONE MORE WEEK to check it out through December 30! Click here for INFO!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Tomorrow (my birthday) we are taking our four grandchildren to this presentation. Wish us luck! Happy Holidays to you and your family, Joyce.
I think the kids will LOVE it! Have fun and happy new year!!
And how was Tiger Lily???
She wasn’t as good as this fabulous young teenager I remember from a production in southern Connecticut many years ago. That girl was going places…!
I really enjoyed the mechanics of the show. I loved how the actors would disappear into the stage and the flying was great. I preferred the Peter Pan play with with Kathy Rigby, She was almost as good as Mary Martin. But no one tops Mary as Peter!. I grew up watching Mary Martin do Peter Pan on tv. To me Peter Pan should be a woman playing a boy…It was weird seeing a male actor play the role. I guess I’m just a traditionalist.) But I did enjoy this show and thought it was fun.
I remember Mary Martin in this part— when I was a little girl–she was entrancing! Some of that is missing here– but I agree, the technology creates some of its own magic. Thanks for your comment!