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Saturday, Aug 30, 2008
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| Peter Pan still doesn't grow up | |
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| by Miryam Gordon -
SGN A&E Writer PETER PAN BY JAMES BARRIE ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY JOY MARZEC BOOK-IT REPERTORY THROUGH DECEMBER 23 Book-It has gone back to the book, as it always does, to create a new stage version of the familiar tale. This is a sprightly production, moving quickly and is faithful to the book. It's not terribly magical. Nobody gets hiked up over the stage to swing from ropes to fly. In that regard, it feels like a smaller budget production. The story is grimmer than I remember. Disney and Broadway musicals have succeeded in sapping the danger out of the story and this puts a lot of it back. Peter Pan talks of killing people. Hook talks of killing Peter. Neverland is not a safe, magical place. I guess that's how people think of the compound in California, now. Not so safe, not so magical&. Costuming by Christine Meyers is creative and fun. The mermaid and crocodile and Tinkerbell are particularly vivid and unique. The way the mermaid moves is truly remarkable and has to be done by a very strong and physically proficient person. Here, Olivia Spokoiny - a young lady of many talents - makes the mermaid swim. She also doubles as the daughter later in the play. Tinkerbell is darker and meaner than in some productions, but fun, as she tries to get Wendy killed, and succeeds for a time. She, too, is played with great physicality by Rhonda Soikowski, who titters and squeaks in an amusingly high voice. The play is clearly anchored in England, with thick English accents for all. It doesn't really enhance the story, and sometimes actively gets in the way, when you can't quite understand all the speech. While young Miss Greta Bloor plays a spunky and intelligent Wendy, her accent gets so proper it's schoolmarmish. Captain Hook gets to really gnash away in this production and is one of the best turns in the show. Eric Ray Anderson tries to win over the audience as he speaks to us of his inner goodness. However, that inner goodness doesn't stop him from poisoning Peter Pan or killing people by having them walk the plank. It would probably be best to leave the youngest at home and just bring those about 10 years and up, if you're looking for productions suitable for the family. It's just a bit dense in accent and grim in violence for the youngest set, and Tinkerbell is so lifesized that the typical "fairyness" that small children might expect is compromised. For more information, go to www.book-it.org or call 206-216-0833. Comments on reviews go to sgncritic@gmail.com. |
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