Reviews: Peter Pan at Saint John Paul the Great
Written by Madelyn Regan of Centreville High School
There's nothing as soothing as a bedtime story to send children off to sleep, but not one audience member at Saint John Paul the Great's production of Peter Pan would dare shut their eyes for fear of missing the adventure.
The musical version of Peter Pan, based on the classic J.M. Barrie play, first hit the Broadway scene in 1954. With Mary Martin in the titular role, the show garnered two Tony awards and was broadcast to the world through a series of NBC specials. The story begins beneath the moonlit sky of 20th century London as the Darling family has just settled in for bedtime. Suddenly, the sprightly Peter Pan bursts through the window. Before they know it, the three Darling children are off to Neverland, an island of dazzling mermaids, gnarly pirates, and children who never grow up. It's a tale as old as time, and yet Saint John Paul the Great's stellar cast and crew were able to breathe new life into the classic childhood story.
From the moment she leapt onstage, Maeve Williams's boyish smirk captured the mischievous spirit of Peter Pan. Whether she was dashing after her own shadow or challenging foes to a sword fight, she executed every movement with cartoonish bravado. Williams's unwavering voice belted out the classic "I've Gotta Crow" with verve as she literally floated about the stage. Grace Hall provided a delightful complement to Williams's youthful brashness as Wendy Darling. While she was smart-mouthed and pouty toward Peter, Hall revealed a tender, motherly side when taking care of the Lost Boys: a girl who might've chosen to grow up, but who never forgot the childhood she left behind.
With movements as graceful as petals on the wind, the Brave Girls stalked their Neverland prey in mesmerizing unison. Emma Ramer, who led the pack as the light-footed Tiger Lily, executed ballet twirls with ease. Her confident guidance of the Brave Girls provided the perfect parallel to Peter Pan and his rowdy Lost Boys. The Brave Girls's flighty target—the Ostrich, played by Magdalene Moore—quickly became a crowd favorite. As the huntresses cunningly circled the bird, Moore's nervous glances and well-timed squawks never once failed to elicit laughter from the audience.
The fantastical events of Peter Pan played out beautifully against a whimsical series of backdrops, designed and painted by Hannah Malinowski, Patrick Kurrus, Alex Everson, and Evelyn Wieder. With the turn of a page, Tinkerbell transformed the Darlings's quaint bedroom to the rainbow-crested skies of Neverland, and from a scene of lush islands to an ocean of shark-infested waters. Behind the storybook sat The Peter Pan Pit, who accompanied the show's larger-than-life moments with a gorgeous soundtrack. They commanded the movements of the Brave Girls with the beat of a drum, and gave life to Tinkerbell with playful piano effects; delivering the final touch of magic that made this story soar.
With faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust, St. John Paul the Great's production of Peter Pan transported audiences back to the days of their childhood. The cast and crew spun marvelous wonder through the pages of this classic tale, and demonstrated that no sword is stronger than the power of imagination.
Written by Nataline Phillips of West Springfield High School
A crew of children flies above the night sky, the green light of a fairy by their side, adventure in sight. Though this sounds like a fantasy, Saint John Paul the Great's Peter Pan the Musical proved that all we really need to take flight is some fairy dust and a head full of lovely thoughts.
Adapted from J.M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter and Wendy and its subsequent adaptations, Peter Pan tells the story of the Darling family and their iconic, imaginative journey. Visited by Peter in their bedroom one night, Wendy and her brothers John and Michael are whisked away to the fabled Neverland to face gnarly pirates, newfound friends, and more. This musical adaptation first debuted on Broadway in 1954, with revisions to the script coming decades later.
Overflowing with youthful charm and stubborn determination was Maeve Williams as the titular Peter Pan. Williams displayed the fitting charisma of the classic character, evident in the leaps and dashes that the actor showcased right from the start of the show. Williams's portrayal was upbeat and boyish while both singing and flying via the stage's fly system. This contrasted well with Grace Hall as the endearing Wendy. Hall's command when parenting Lost Boys along with a soft soprano seen in numbers such as "Tender Shepherd" fittingly displayed the motherly care that the character embodied.
Neverland on Saint John Paul's stage was home to a diverse array of additional performers, each of whom amplified the fun that this story carried. The Lost Boy ensemble was a spirited squad with boatloads of chemistry, never afraid to form a dogpile at the end of an unruly song number ("I Won't Grow Up"). This paired well with the more unified, dance-oriented Brave Girl ensemble with their flips and chants. In the murkier waters of the island, Captain Hook (Declan Martinez) and his pirates were a chaotic crew sure to leave a laugh. Mustached Martinez hooked viewers with a mischievous stage presence and a comedic delivery true to the famous pirate role.
As the curtain opened on Peter Pan, the audience was hit with the sight of a large, dynamic storybook set piece, painted alluringly by the team of Hannah Malinowski, Patrick Kurrus, Alex Everson, and Evelyn Wieder. The designs painted by this crew had crisp attention to detail, with the Darling family bookshelf visibly containing titles that Wendy discusses in the production. The sound team (Robert Lindsey and Sam Castle) was effective in making the wild, playful nature of the production contained concisely on stage. This was seen in the melodic dings used for the laser pointer manifestation of Tinker Bell, a clever manifestation of the fairy's speech.
Growing up isn't easy, but with the help of Saint John Paul the Great, pirates and fairies alike felt the bliss of youth radiating straight off the second star to the right and straight on 'til morning.