Wed. May 11, 2011
By John Olson
Much marketing noise is made of the multimedia elements of this touring British production, performed in a huge tent that includes a dome on which 360-degree background settings are projected above the in-the-round audience seating. Sure enough, the projections are quite spectacular at times: the flight of Peter and the Darling children over an Edwardian London skyline is almost worth the price of admission alone, and the climactic battle scene places the audience right in the middle of the deck aboard Captain Hook's pirate ship. At its heart, though, this Peter Pan is a sophisticated production of the classic, performed impressively by a cast featuring pedigreed British and American actors in the leads and a fine crew of young local actors in the supporting roles. Whether that's praise or criticism may vary based on one's hopes for this production.
Taken individually, the production elements are not always mind-blowing, especially for a regular Chicago theatergoer. The flying is performed artfully and gracefully, but you'll see more spectacular acrobatics at Lookingglass Theatre. The puppetry—particularly the huge Newfoundland dog Nana and the two-man powered crocodile that is Captain Hook's nemesis—is impressive, but you'll find more surprising puppetry at a Quest Ensemble production. Still, these elements all come together in service of the story, and create an immersive fantasy world that takes us off to Neverland. And even if we miss the songs from the stage musical version of Peter Pan, there's something to be gained from seeing the story performed more faithfully to the J.M. Barrie original play and novelization.
West End leading man Steven Pacey has the dual roles of Captain Hook and the father, George Darling. His Hook is just as comically snarly and vindictive as we expect from the character, but in this script (adapted by Tanya Ronder) he's sadistic as well, planning to whip the Lost Boys before making them walk the plank. As he refers to a cat-o-nine-tails, the kids in the audience won't get it enough to be frightened—and it doesn't ever happen—but this might have an opportunity for a legitimate compromise to the piece's faithfulness to the original. Regina Leslie is a kind (and grieving when she believes her children are lost) mother to the Darling children, including the boys John and Michael, played charmingly by young British actors Tom Larkin and Scott Weston.
Peter Pan will be performed at the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center North, 650 W. Chicago Ave., through June 19, 2011.Ticket information is available at www.BroadwayinChicago.com and www.peterpantheshow.com and by phone at 888-PPANTIX.
Photo: Evelyn Hoskins, Tom Larkin, Nana and puppeteer Joshua Holden, Scott Weston (photo by: Kevin Berne)
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