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Peter Pan
by Westchester Broadway Theatre  Westchester Broadway Theatre keeps the story of the boy who
would never grow up as young and fresh as ever with their summer dinner theatre
production in Elmsford, New York. After cast members pass out the selected dish
(the spinach Florentine was quite good) they later head back stage, entering
again to start the magic. The Darling’s maid Liza, on the night I attended
played by the graceful and playful Alex Bradsell (who also stars as the
amusing and athletic Tiger Lily), picks up three little kids in stuffed animal
costumes and guides them to the toy box. Although not without some reluctance
from the toys – toys that are cleverly used at other times during Liza
interludes throughout Director George Puello’s creative and magical
show.
With the toys put away, the story is set to take off with Peter Pan flying in through the window. That’s Rebecca Simpson Wallach – a talented young actress with vocals that soar whether she’s literally soaring through the air in Flying or capturing the wonder and excitement of Neverland or the poignancy of A Distant Melody, all while nailing the character so completely with his curiosity over a hobby horse, Peter’s boyish confidence and pride (especially that it was his kiss/thimble that saved Wendy’s life), and his fears and loneliness that are felt but never spoken. This side of Peter is most palpable with Wendy during A Distant Melody. Lauren Moore and Rebecca are real-life close friends, and their chemistry is clear throughout, but especially as Peter rests his head in Wendy’s lap, finally letting himself be touched, leaving Wendy visibly both sympathetic to all he keeps inside him and touched that Peter has opened up to her in this way. A great comedian as well, Lauren gets far more out of Wendy’s character than usual.
Spoiler alert: Although Captain Hook’s fate seems bleak between the Croc and the bomb following him over the side of the Jolly Roger, we know at least his hook survives as it comes flying back out onto the stage of a rejoicing Neverland. Performed July 8 - August 15, 2010 Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
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But if these friends are going to make it out of this show
alive, they’ve got to deal with the dastardly Captain Hook. Jeff Schlotman
is a hoot as the outrageous Hook, always accompanied very closely by lovable,
devoted, brown-nosing attendant Smee (Daniel Carlino) who in the course
of several scenes becomes intimately familiar with his boss’s butt. Hook and
his pirates generate tons of laughs throughout and a bit of frenzied running as
they chase after Tiger Lily and her Indians all around the stage and seats.
Other highlights include an energetic Ugg-A-Wugg song and dance by the
Indians, little John (Conner Ives) and Michael (Alex Pasieka)
joining in on an exuberant Flying scene, and a lively group of Lost Boys
always ready to celebrate Peter Pan or swear they’ll never grow up or cry over Hamlet
or even teach kids in the audience how to crow. Not to mention a fun, suave,
tap-dancing Crocodile (Davyd H. Suber, Jr.) who chases after Hook with
unparalleled style.