PicksInSix Review: Peter Pan-Broadway in Chicago
Take Flight with Reimagined PETER PAN!
PicksInSix® Review | Guest Contributor | Kaitlyn Linsner
“Peter Pan” opened in a limited run at the James N. Nederlander Theatre on Wednesday night with an audience full of children eager to watch the beloved characters soar off to Neverland. The wholesome production, directed by Lonny Price, maintains much of the magic of the original musical. Everyone was delighted the moment Peter Pan (Nolan Almeida) flies on stage to later search for and grapple with his mischievous shadow. In fact, all of the flying scenes are such fun with the best being the remarkable staging of the initial flight of Peter and the Darling children to Neverland.
This version also re-conceptualizes the story in important and necessary ways to create a more inclusive and less harmful portrayal of women and indigenous characters. These changes come from the additional book of Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse. Her telling gives a long overdue backstory to Tiger Lily (Raye Zaragoza) and the indigenous tribe now inhabiting Neverland. Each tribe member is the last of their people who have taken refuge on the island to preserve their culture before returning home someday. Tiger Lily and Peter also team up to run the island, and the two of them plus Wendy (Hawa Kamara) fight together against the pirates.
All of this is a great refresh to the original musical yet the production lacks depth and caters to a very young crowd. The narrative and dialogue only scratch the surface in addressing the full range of emotions and themes that have drawn so many into the story of a boy who refuses to grow up. “Peter Pan” focuses on innocence and imagination, and in turn leaves behind the more profound and at times darker feelings that arise when exploring concepts like home, preserving memories, motherhood and aging.
The musical is at its best, then, when leaning into spirited and cheerful musical numbers such as a tap dance from the Lost Boys and stage turtles, and when Peter Pan, Tiger Lily and the full company perform “Friends Forever” with endearing choreography and such heart.
Singularly, the actors do well in portraying their characters. Almeida plays Peter with confidence and charm. Kamara’s Wendy is warm and strong. Cody Garcia’s theatrics as Captain Hook are extravagant and entertaining. The pirates as a whole, though did not come across as gritty villains but instead goofy and cartoonish.
Yet, “Peter Pan” still brings plenty of enchantment to Chicago and will have many young audience members in wonder. The show runs through April 7.
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | KAITLYN LINSNER is a Chicago-based attorney practicing construction and surety law.
PHOTO|Matthew Murphy
Broadway in Chicago
presents
PETER PAN
James N. Nederlander Theatre
through April 7, 2024
WEBSITE
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