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THEATER REVIEW: |
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Marcia Brase as Peter Pan
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But at the Sunday evening show I saw at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the magic was often hard to find. When Peter Pan flew for the first time through the window of the children's bedroom -- a much anticipated moment that should bring at least a small gasp to the audience -- there was absolute zero reaction. That's not good. I'm sure that some children, especially small ones, will find a lot to love about this show, including the bright colors, Debora Bolen's imaginative costumes (the Crocodile and Nana are big hits), Kaye Migaki's whimsical choreography and the boisterous energy of Captain Hook's band of pirates. I suspect that many adults, however, will find it harder to connect -- not because of an inability to "imagine Neverland" or any of the other nostalgic childhood themes of the play, but simply because the dated material never exceeds kiddie-show blandness. If you think I'm being too hard on a children's production, remember that this annual holiday slot is turned over to Musical Theaterworks Fresno, the community-theater arm of Children's Musical Theaterworks. The cast is fully auditioned, and adult actors play most adult roles. |
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The biggest problem is the slow start to the show. Director Jeff White struggles in the deathly long opening scenes -- they seems to stretch on forever -- to find a way to pick up the pace. After meeting the Darling children -- Wendy (Brittany Holmes), John (Philip Sarkisian) and Michael (played at the performance I saw by Brandon Adams) -- we get the arrival of Peter (Marcia Brase, who has a fine singing voice and a sweet but undeveloped stage presence). I'm not sure why the scene ended up trudging along at a snail's pace (although I did notice a signifcant lag time between line readings), but the impact is deadening. Perhaps it's because the bedroom set is so enormous, which, I understand, had to be done to accommodate the flying sequences. The big, wide-open expanse of the first scenes isn't helped by Laura Vogt's nighttime lighting design, which never invites the audience in to the coziness of the bedroom. |
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The pace picks up a little once we get to Neverland, especially when we meet Captain Hook (a fine Nate Butler, who puts his boisterous all into the role). The Lost Boys, too, are highlights as they scamper with appropriate enthusiasm. There are plenty of old-fashioned elements in "Peter Pan" to offend modern sensibilities, especially when it comes to gender stereotypes and the band of Indians, but I'd like to think that there could be a way to stage these scenes with at least some contemporary awareness. I suspect that White would have liked to do that, but it just doesn't come across. Overall, it's a big and ambitious production, and there is some dazzle on display. But "Peter Pan" doesn't rank in the top tier of this company's community-theater holiday offerings. The reporter can be reached at dmunro@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6373. Read his blog at |
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"What's that you say, Donald?"
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There were many on-line responses to Donald Munro's review of "Peter Pan." A few are reprinted below for your enjoyment.Comments:
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***** I went tonight with my comp tickets. Some thoughts: ***** I don't know enough about plays and productions to be able to properly comment on theater like Donald can. But I attended tonight and had a great time. I'm not a huge Peter Pan fan, nor have I been to a lot of children's theater. But I thought the production was ambitious, campy, and fun. It's worth seeing. ***** 1) I think the flying is great! Not many productions of "Peter Pan" have flying. ***** I'd like to send a thanks out to Munro for not holding back -- assuming he didn't. Community theater is our schooling; how will we ever soar to our potential heights without taking a good, honest look at ourselves while constantly striving to improve what we see. This project has been overwhelming, and so rewarding. Come and see the show; I can't imagine anyone who would regret it. Come and find the magic... it's there... just let yourself believe. ***** As a member of the cast, my opinion is clearly biased. I have never seen this production of Peter Pan, at least not from the point of view from which it should be viewed, from the audience. What our audiences will see today in our last two performances is a much improved version of what Donald Munro saw last week. The long first act and scene changes are clearly shorter. The show is now much more crisp and tight. |
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