Theater Reviews

Jan 26, 2008 - "Peter Pan," a flawed musical with a gallant cast, opens at Reno's Pioneer Center

By Jack Neal

At two-and-a-half hours “Peter Pan,” the musical, is too long by almost one-third for the audience who loves the show most – children. By the time “several years later” is projected on the scrim, many audience members didn’t have to be reminded how many years later it was.

Whimsy and big doses of buying into disbelief are necessary to propel “Peter Pan,” not just skyward in flight, but deep into the hearts of an audience wanting to regain lost innocence in the enchanted world of a child’s imagination.

Brooke Stone is a pert and cute Peter, but doesn’t quite play the role’s stylization softly enough to be completely winning over the long haul of the show’s running time. A wonderful singer and performer who works hard to please, her take on the magical world of Peter Pan works all the right theatrical angles. But working the angles isn’t what’s needed. It’s affection Peter Pan must sell to new fans, not affectation.

Gary Kimble is a fabulous Captain Hook, and what a juicy role it is. Vain and ruthless in a hilarious way, Hook is one of theater’s superlative comic villains. The raised eyebrow, the lip-smacking smirk, the wonderful baggage of comedic body language are used to full advantage by Kimble’s Hook to keep his inept shipload of pirates in as much of a line as haphazard souls can muster. Credit choreographer Connie Shafer for providing the business, movement and nonsense that make Hook and his motley pirate crew a bevy of hoots. Credit Kimble and his robust buddies for bringing needed energy to this production whenever they show up.

In the pivitol role of Wendy, erstwhile head kid and mother, Rochelle Smith is all the things Wendy should be and is. A gracious natural actor and stage presence Smith makes her moments on stage morsels to savor. Smee, Hook’s sidekick in shenanigans, is deliciously brought off by what appears to be a smelly, whiskey breathed and tattooed Marc de la Concha. The remainder of the cast – in incarnations as pirates, Indians, a dog, a crocodile, a kangaroo, a lion (you name it) - is as delightful as their variety is diverse.

With music by Mark Chaplan and lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and additional music by Jule Styne and additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, “Peter Pan,” if not memorable in music, is at least cleverly endowed in words. “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Got to Crow,” “I Won’t Grow Up,” and “Captain Hook’s Waltz” give the show enviable oomph in the words and tunes department. The show’s eight-piece, heavily synthesized pit ensemble conducted by John Tarbet is adequate, if not always in perfect enough intonation to cover cheap sounding orchestrations.

With scenery and flying by ZFX and costumes provided by Costume World one might worry about the anonymity of who should be blamed or praised, except that the scenery, flying and costumes are pleasing and attractive. Scott Orlesky’s lighting hides and enhances as clever lighting should. Director Jeffrey B. Moss’s staging is a faithful re-creation of the 1954 original by Jerome Robbins.

Based on the play by James M. Barrie, “Peter Pan” the musical suffers most from a book (script) that sixty years later comes off more like a variety show than a tight musical comedy that entertains then stops when it’s ahead.

“Peter Pan” can be seen at Reno’s Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, Friday, January 25 (the performance reviewed) at 8 p.m. Saturday, January 26 at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, January 27 at 2 and 7 p.m. For information call 775-686-6600 or go on line at www.pioneercenter.com.