Peter Pan

So, last week's trip was quite interesting. I always say that there really is no such thing as bad theatre because you should always find something you appreciate about a production when the curtain falls. I have seen Peter Pan multiple times, and with each, I had a different reaction. Sometimes when you see a stage performance that doesn't speak to you, it is hard to tell if it is because of the script, the cast, the staging, or just a combination of the elements.

Friday's show was one that I enjoyed, but had some trouble with pieces. The 35 yr old Peter with tatoos wasn't really my image of Pan. Although his voice was lovely, his dancing superb, and his heart was definitely in the performance, there was something lacking. As performers, you should draw upon experiences to make the character real. I think our aging Pan was too far removed from the innocence of youth. What he attempted to bridge with comedy came across as campy and overdone. That said, I did want to share a clip of the Pan that always comes to my mind...Cathy Rigby. Although not young and not an actress by trade, she really comes through with an innocence that makes you realize Pan just "won't grow up."