NETworks Displays/Peter Pan, further guide adaptation by Larissa Fasthorse after Jerome Robins, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, further lyrics by Betty Comden, Adolph and Amanda Inexperienced, music by Morris (Moose) Charlap, further music by Jule Styne, flying by Paul Rubin, music supervision by Andy Einhorn, choreographed by Lorin Latarro, directed by Lonny Value, (authentic path and choreography by Jerome Robbins, authentic playwright Sir J.M. Barrie), CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, closes June 1. Tickets right here.
This very pleasant manufacturing of Peter Pan is a real nationwide tour.
Nationwide excursions normally observe a profitable Broadway, or West Finish run or hopefully are heading for a Broadway or West Finish engagement. This “reimagined” Peter Pan started in Saint Paul, Minnesota in December 2023, and ends right here in Toronto. Within the intervening yr and a half, Peter Pan has visited a staggering 42 cities. That’s proper, Toronto is the forty second metropolis. Thus, this Peter Pan is a stand-alone touring manufacturing.
Extra appropriately, Peter Pan is finishing a North American tour. We’re not the 51st state but.
The Manufacturing
This reimagined manufacturing of Peter Pan is unquestionably not a canine and pony present. In truth, it’s a class act from begin to end. The reimagining comes from the truth that this present makes use of as its bottom line the script and songs from the unique musical Peter Pan that was created by some very gifted individuals in 1954.
It appears the person behind the reimagining is director Lonny Value, twice nominated for an Emmy award and a winner of two, twice nominated for a Tony, and whose multitude of Broadway and West Finish credit are up the wazoo. Briefly, this Peter Pan has creds.
The manufacturing’s frontline 10-member artistic workforce has given us intelligent units, notably the luxurious fairytale greenery of Neverland, to not point out the charming Darling nursery with that each one necessary large window, and the true-to-life deck of the pirate ship, the Jolly Roger. The costumes are a variety of enjoyable, denoting id, whereas the crocodile seems to be like the actual factor, a lot to the delight of the youngsters within the viewers.
The lighting is imaginative, notably the particular design for Tinker Bell, and kudos to the musician within the orchestra who performs the artistic musical speech that accompanies her flashing gentle. This being the twenty first century, the expertise is right here to create spectacular visible results, notably when the Darling kids and Peter are flying to Neverland.
You possibly can’t assist however be impressed.
I used to be particularly taken with Lorin Latarro’s choreography. It was whimsical and evocative and forceful and foolish and candy, relying on the second, whether or not it was for the Misplaced Boys or the pirates or Tiger Lily and her Indian band. The choreography was an absolute stand-out for me. David Dabbon is credited for composing new battle and dance music, so perhaps that’s why the choreography was notably punchy.
A part of the reimagining was bringing in esteemed Sicangu Lakota playwright Larissa Fasthorse to replace the script, however extra notably, to cope with the problematic stereotypical remedy of marauding Indians within the authentic model.
And so, we have now references to computer systems and movies, and different twenty first century improvements, however Tiger Lily and her band have been given the the Aristocracy of a misplaced individuals who nonetheless possess warrior energy of their hearts.
The Solid
Within the all-important function of Peter is Kruz Maldonado, who was actually plucked by Value out of his first yr of theatre college when he was simply 18. The younger man can sing up a storm, and in reality he has an totally lovely voice that ought to take him far, with its clear brilliant clean sound and excellent diction.
The performing aspect of issues was overdone, nonetheless. Maldonado definitely had the swagger and the insouciance and the careless affectation of Peter, however he stored one tone of voice all through, and misplaced phrases on the finish of sentences because of this. Nonetheless, the younger actor definitely has stage presence, there’s no denying that.
The opposite large lead is the twin function of Mr. Darling and Captain Hook which was rendered with gusto by Cody Garcia, a really tall drink of water certainly, though why Captain Hook had a Scottish accent, I have no idea.
Garcia performed Mr. Darling as suitably anxious, and Captain Hook is pompously foolish, which nailed the character to a T. Plainly when the Captain has to assemble his ideas, it’s to bounce rhythms like a tango or a tarantella accompanied by his pirate music ensemble, and these sequences had been notably amusing.
Clearly the function of Wendy was deemed too necessary to present to a toddler, so it was performed by younger skilled Aubrie-Mei Rubel, who demonstrated each the sweetness and feistiness of the character, though she does have an odd behavior of getting fairly loud when she involves the top of a singing line.
Her brothers had been performed by two precise kids. Owen Suarez as the intense historical past buff John has an astonishing variety of credit for one so younger, even an extended resume than among the professionals within the firm. Equally, Zaynn Arora because the totally lovely little Michael has in depth voiceover and business credit, and has been performing since he was two.
For sure, each boys can sing and dance.
The function of the newly revised highly effective Tiger Lily was performed by Bailey Frankenberg, a Choctaw from the Cherokee Nation. She’s an aerialist who makes a speciality of stage violence, and is, in truth, the battle captain for the present. Frankenberg may also sing and dance and gave a really sturdy efficiency as Tiger Lily.
There all the time must be a foolish second banana who will get the laughs, and on this present it’s Kurt Perry as Smee, Captain Hook’s cowardly however truthful second in command. I simply want he had spoken louder and slower. Shefali Deshpande conveyed each a sympathetic and calm Mrs. Darling and the older Wendy.
The energetic singing and dancing ensemble is made up of each kids (Misplaced Boys) and adults (Pirates) and it’s good to see ladies included within the latter.
Final Ideas
There’s something to be stated for an old style musical.
An orchestra within the pit. A conductor main the gamers in an overture. Beloved songs which were round since Peter Pan was first carried out in 1954. Exit Music because the viewers leaves the theatre.
That is the form of present the place each adults and youngsters can have a extremely good time, so thanks Lonny Value for “reimagining” Peter Pan, and reminding us to consider in fairies as soon as once more.
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Paula Citron is a Toronto-based freelance arts journalist and broadcaster who hosts her personal web site, paulacitron.ca. For over 25 years, she was senior dance author for The Globe and Mail, affiliate editor of Opera Canada journal, arts reviewer for Classical 96.3 FM, and dance previews contributor to Toronto Life journal. She has been a visitor lecturer for numerous cultural teams and universities, notably on the function of the critic/reviewer, and has been a panellist on COC podcasts. Earlier than assuming a full-time journalism profession, Ms. Citron was a member of the drama division of the Claude Watson College for the Arts.
