Phillyist Reviews... Peter Pan

Photo by Mark Garvin, courtesy Arden Theatre Company

The steampunk influenced, multi-tiered set currently gracing the F. Otto Haas stage at the Arden is one of the most impressive pieces of scenic design in recent memory. There are platforms upon platforms outfitted with large planks, ladders, hidden staircases, wheels, cogs, and even a whole Penny-farthing bicycle. After seeing several productions worth of bare stages featuring little more than rehearsal doors and furniture, Tom Gleeson's anti-minimalist Neverland is just what the doctor ordered. Here everything works. And by "everything works," we mean just that. Practically every element of the set is functional—right down to the gutted pianos innards played by a mallet-wielding actor.

It is therefore fortunate that every other detail of this innovative adaptation of the classic children's tale, Peter Pan, is littered with the same amount of talent and charm. A beautiful set leads to impeccable staging. The first battle between Peter and Hook, though restrained to a small corner of the stage, is smartly choreographed and executed with urgency and finesse. The cunning use of wooden swords reinforces the notion that we're all really children at heart: even Neverland pirates.

Speaking of children, in this interpretation of Peter Pan, puppets made from pots and tea kettles, buckets and mops, garden trowels and pots, are used to portray the Lost Boys. This is stunt casting of epic proportions. Children love puppets and Peter Pan is, after all, a children's play. But we all know that when puppets are involved in a live production, it always has the potential to go terribly right or horribly wrong. In Peter Pan at the Arden it went like this:

Toodles: Wendy lady, did we make a good first impression?
Wendy: Well, it's a lovely, darling impression.

And some of the best acting is done behind those puppets. Sarah Sanford's Toodles and David Sweeny's Slightly were beyond delightful. Tinker Bell is a puppet of a different sort (think: giant firefly on the end of a fishing pole outfitted with chimes) and she is gamely operated and embodied by Bi Jean Ngo. Ngo is everything Tink should be—sassy, resentful, and sprightly.

As for our leads, Wendy Bird Jackie Real could really just stop the school and move to New York already. Not that the extra training would be unhelpful (even Meryl Streep was a drama student at one time), but because she has that spark of potential star quality that cannot be taught. Chris Bresky is reminiscent of a young Anthony Rapp and brings great energy to the role of Peter. Frank X's Captain Hook is appropriately swirling and over-dramatic. He deliberately plays much of the role to comic effect, thus embodying the paradox that Hook is really a big old pansy in the body of a fierce pirate captain.

We happened to venture to the Arden on Girl Scout Day, and although this Phillyist isn't a huge kid person, I can tell you that observing an audience full of children witness a special play like Peter Pan was a real treat. Peter's "Girls are far too clever to fall out of their carriages" line drew a "That's true." response from a little girl nearby. His scolding of Tink with "You silly ass!" prompted shocked gasps. Sometimes the girls didn't quite grasp the humor, like when Hook deadpanned "And then they will die." after a large dramatic pause or "Split my infinitives—it is my hour of triumph!" (Meanwhile they stared at fellow Phillyist Erica M. and me cracking up in our front-row seats.) Sometimes they did, like when an 8-year-old girl threw a Peter-esque ugly face at Hook's back after he was finished monologuing directly at her.

In short, we found Peter Pan to be a wonderful few hours of merriment, fantasy, and mayhem. There was flying, crowing, fighting, and pretty much everything else fun you could want or need. A warning though: a few things did go missing or were rearranged in the adaptation process. Therefore, what you don't need is to bring with you are expectations that you'll be seeing a traditional treatment of J.M. Barrie's story. If you can manage to do this, you're in for a bangarang good time indeed.

Peter Pan runs through January 24, 2010, on the F. Otto Haas Stage at the Arden Theatre.