Neverland Gets an Update: Review of 'Peter Pan' now at The Schuster
Mike Woody reviews Peter Pan, now showing as part of the Broadway in Dayton series at the Schuster Center thru March 2
Neverland Gets an Update: 'Peter Pan' Delivers Fresh Fun and Familiar Magic
While the majority of the hairs on my head turn gray, body aches increase and Super Bowl halftime shows become less and less tolerable; the idea of never getting old becomes more appealing. Maybe Neverland is a better choice than Florida to spend the golden years. One thing is for sure, filled with thrilling action, loads of laughs, and beautiful music, Peter Pan makes a convincing case. The hit Broadway musical even kept me awake and I was able to hear it all.
After hearing of a characters desire to go viral, not with an infectious disease but by millions of viewers of her online video, I knew this was a modernized version of Peter Pan. At its core, all the classic elements remain, just with some minor differences to keep it fresh.
In search of his lost shadow, Peter Pan (Kruz Maldonado) enters through the window of the Darling children’s bedroom. Though on his first national tour, Maldonado portrays the iconic character like a veteran. Everything from his cock-a-doodle-do’s to flying appeared completely natural. Maldonado’s vocals are as strong as his sword fighting skills, all contained within a youthful charisma.
A lighter sleeper than her brothers, Wendy (Zanie Love Shaia) is awoken by Peter. Seeking adventure and responsibility, Wendy convinces Peter to take her to Neverland to serve as a mother figure to the Lost Boys. Shaia is endearing, and forces the audience to invest in her well- being.
The safety of those in Neverland are at risk, due to the delightfully dastardly Captain Hook (Cody Garcia). His intentions may be cruel, but Garcia excels at making Hook a character to root for. His comedic timing, mannerisms, and strong vocals are undeniably pleasing. Despite being one handed, Hook holds a tight grip over all the action. He’s followed by a group of bumbling pirates, who repeatedly fail in their missions but do successfully provide music for Hook in whatever style he chooses. A flamboyant Kurt Perry is entertaining as Smee.
An enemy turned friend of Peter is Tiger Lily (Bailey Frankenberg) or TL for short. Along with the entire ensemble, Frankenberg provides some magic with her feet. Their dance moves are impressive, especially during ‘Friends Forever’ to end the first act. The choreography is top notch.
There are some visual highlights that special effects make possible. First, the images on the screen while Peter and the Darling children are flying, provides the feeling of riding a rollercoaster. I resisted the urge to hold up my arms. It’s also better than waiting in the long line for the Peter Pan ride at Magic Kingdom.
Second, is the shadow puppets Peter magically makes appears during the opening scene. Finally, is Tinkerbell, portrayed by a flashing light that somehow darts all around.
Compared to most shows in the Broadway series, Peter Pan is geared more towards children, but there’s still plenty for all ages to enjoy. As inside all of us is the wish to somehow stay forever young like Peter Pan.
More information: Peter Pan at the Schuster Center now thru March 2
