– By Cate Marquis –
The beloved musical classic “Peter Pan” flies into the Fox Theater bringing family fun, adventure and amazing stage effects to delight all ages. The musical adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s beloved children’s adventure book has delighted generations with its adventure fun and flying effects but this is a somewhat different “Peter Pan,” also updated and set in the present. And the tour adds some touches for the St. Louis as well.
Aerial effects have always been a signature treat of the stage musical “Peter Pan,” along with immersion in its world of childhood imagination and adventure. The touring show at the Fox does not disappoint and, in fact, soars above expectations. When Peter Pan first appears, flying through to window of the children’s bedroom, audible gasps were heard, setting things up for a show with plenty of effects and creative, immersive staging to complete our trip to Neverland.
The beloved “Peter Pan” evokes the timeless magic of childhood imagination and adventure, but this new version of the musical based on J.M. Barrie’s early 20th century novel has some updates to address some problematic aspects and bring it into the present era. The story is re-set in the present, and for the St. Louis show, even includes some St. Louis area references including one about the nearby Cahokia Mounds site. The parents, Mrs. Darling (Shefali Deshpande) and Mr. Darling (Cody Garcia), are a modern couple, both of whom work, and the sheepdog nanny is replaced by a babysitter who is immersed in her devices and social media. Once Wendy and her brothers John (William Foon) and Michael (Camden Kwok), they find a very different Tiger Lily awaiting them, an in-charge, adventurous girl leading a diverse band of indigenous children, and not someone in need of rescue, but ultimately willing to team up to fight a common enemy, Capt Hook (again Cody Garcia but now sporting a Scottish accent) and his band of pirates.
Although Peter Pan is the boy who never grows up, the role in the musical has been played traditionally by women, famously including Mary Martin and Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Renner. In this tour, that pattern is broken and the gymnastic, high-flying role is played by 17-year-old Nolan Almeida, in a splendid performance with all the charisma required.
Hawa Kamara plays Wendy, the eldest child in the Darling family, with younger brothers John (William Foon) and Michael (Camden Kwok). This family is more middle-class rather than the wealthy one in the book, and both Mrs. Darling (Shefali Deshpande) and Mr. Darling (Cody Garcia) have careers. When they go out for the evening, a media-obsessed teenage babysitter, Liza (Hannah Schmidt), is left in charge.
Peter Pan shows up in their nighttime bedroom, looking for his shadow, which the children’s mother had inadvertently picked up and put in a drawer. Peter flies in through a large window, along with Tinkerbell, played by a musical flashing light. After dancing around while he brings his unruly shadow to heel, Peter launches into his signature song of young confidence. “I Gotta Crow,” a delightful number that would be a showstopper if it weren’t the beginning of the adventure.
Peter charms Wendy and persuades her and the two boys to join him in Neverland, which means flying out that window. The flying effects are fabulous, with excellent wirework and ever-shifting green screen projection digital imaged backdrops. The effect is thrilling, with a colorful trip through clouds and over rooftops.
Eventually, they arrive in a green, jungle-ly Neverland, a wonderful mix of physical sets, flats and projections. Wendy is introduced to the Lost Boy as a substitute “mother” who will read bedtime stories to them, which Wendy, who dreams of being a doctor, has agreed to do, to help take care of the homesick boys. It is one of the less successful modernizations but the updating work better when we meet Tiger Lily (Bailey Frankenberg on opening night, but usually Raye Zaragoza), who is a capable girl in charge of her own band, and not just someone helpless to be rescued. Tiger Lily is Hohokam/Yamato and her right-hand man, er, boy, Acoma (Kenny Ramos) is Cahokia Mississippian. Her band is a mix of various indigenous peoples and ethnic identities.
The Croc (Christina Helene Braa) who took Capt. Hook’s hand makes an early appearance, but it takes a while before we meet the pirates, although we heard about them from the start, as the nemesis of both Peter Pan and the Lost Boys and Tiger Lily and her band. When he does appear, Cody Garcia makes a splendid Capt. Hook, sporting a Scottish accent, and bombastic and egotistical in the extreme. The captain’s constant companion is his first mate Smee (Kurt Perry), a comically fearful fellow with a bit of a swish.
The adventures, battles with pirates and clever out-smarting of the evil Capt Hook plays out against vibrant and animated sets, with visually effects in the far backdrop. The songs are fine and young Nolan Almeida is particularly good. Act One closes out with another favorite tune from the venerable musical, “I Won’t Grow Up,” followed by “Friends Forever.”
Act Two is more about battling pirates, and more about the pirates themselves, letting Cody Garcia delight with his colorful Hook, terrorizing his crew or plotting against Peter. Songs include “We Hate Those Kids,” to the tune of “I Won’t Grow Up,” and later, a reprise of “I Gotta Crow” among others.
Some audiences will embrace this new, modernized “Peter Pan,” maybe particularly younger ones, but traditionalists might be less pleased with the changes. Regardless of how one feels about the modernization, there is no denying this “Peter Pan” has eye-popping aerial effects that are rendered even more magical by the beautiful visual projection effects and wonderful sets and costumes.
“Peter Pan” is on stage at the Fabulous Fox through November 24.
© Cate Marquis
