BWW Reviews: Second to the Right, and Straight on to Rivertown's PETER PAN!

There's that saying "Every day you live is one day closer to death." The opposite happened for me when by some miracle, or maybe even magic, I became younger and younger until I was young enough to think lovely thoughts and follow Peter to his Neverland at Rivertown Theaters. PETER PAN is a show that has always been very special to me. Whether it was my sister betting her fellow first graders that they hadn't seen the "Mary Martin version" or learning the entirety of the shadow puppet show from "I Gotta Crow," this story is one that has and will forever resonate within my soul.

I am forever telling my friends that the worst thing you could wish upon someone is adulthood. I don't mean to say that we should never grow up, but rather that we should always have a sense of childlike wonder and amazement at the world around us, and never lose our sense of fun and adventure. How boring would life be if we forgot those things? Peter understood just that.

Before I comment on the production itself, I would like to thank Rivertown Theaters for choosing to share PETER PAN. I have never before seen that many young people in attendance at a Rivertown production (and I still can't put my finger on why because their shows are always amazing), but it was a welcomed change. After all, what would a production of PETER PAN be without children cheering for Tink, or booing the pirates, or laughing at the crocodile and the lost boys? It was also apparent through this production that PETER PAN so perfectly describes an actor's life when he says, "I want to always be a little boy and have fun." For some reason that stuck with me, and I think the cast and crew did a wonderful job of capturing not only the innocence and fun of this show, but the innocence and fun that comes with acting itself.

Part of capturing the fun comes from the right setting. Set designer and scenic artist David Raphel created the most beautiful world for this story to take place in. When the curtain came up I had to catch my breath because the story that I had pictured in my head was suddenly very real. There were the children's beds, and Nana's house, and stairs leading into the rest of the Darling home. There were dressers, and curtains, and a big window with shutters that Peter and the Darling kids could fly through. And then we moved to Neverland where there was land, and a lagoon, and the lost boy's hideout, and a fantastic Jolly Roger (Captain Hook's ship). I felt like I had entered an entirely different world.

I mentioned that there was a window that Peter and the children could fly through... and fly they did! Thanks to Flying by Foy (the "it" company for setting up flying systems for professional and regional/community theatre, television and film, and even music artists), the actors at Rivertown literally took flight out of the Darling home and away to Neverland. I don't get weepy very often, but the first time Peter flew tears came to my eyes. Magic.

Speaking of Peter... this character is traditionally played by a woman, but Rivertown took an unconventional route casting NOCCA student Ross Quinn as the boy who never grew up. That's one of the things that I love about PETER PAN. Guys and girls alike can live the dream of playing Peter, and it works. Quinn did an exceptional job in this role. I often see shows where it's an entertaining evening, and the actors do a wonderful job of acting. However, it's not often that I see a show and an actor is so convincing that my disbelief is suspended and there is no difference between the actor and the character. This was one of those instances. I hope to see more of Quinn in the future.

Three other standouts in this production of PETER PAN were Matt Reed and Gary Rucker as the hilarious Captain Hook and Mr. Smee duo, as well as Gabrielle Edgerson who played an ever so graceful Tiger Lily. The former two kept me constantly laughing (as any good villains do, right?), and the latter was just the perfect combination of powerful, mysterious, and gentle. Wonderful performances from all!

Again, thanks to the entire Rivertown gang for taking me away from the real world and reminding me that even though I'm a grown up, I should always remember the little girl inside me and to have fun! Season tickets for Rivertown's 2015-2016 season are available now at http://www.rivertowntheaters.com. They've got some great shows coming up including THE PRODUCERS, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING; and, this is their first ever season of all musicals. Check it out!

ARTICLE MAY ALSO BE VIEWED HERE: http://www.nolabackstage.com/single-post/2015/08/11/BWW-Reviews-Second-to-the-Right-and-Straight-on-to-Rivertowns-PETER-PAN