Theater Review: Peter Pan blends timeless adventure with modern sensibilities

A reimagined version of the classic “Peter Pan” musical has flown into Orlando, and Attractions Magazine was invited out to see it. The nearly 70-year-old musical showcases a familiar plot and many classic songs, but now features several updates to bring the show into the 21st century.

Bringing “Peter Pan” into the Modern Era

“Peter Pan” follows the story of one Wendy Darling as she meets a mysterious flying boy who whisks her and her brothers off to Never Never Land, a realm of childlike adventure where no one ever has to grow up. Playwright J.M. Barrie’s original “Peter Pan” debuted onstage in 1904 and has since been adapted many times, including by Disney as a popular 1953 cartoon and various theme park attractions.

The live, staged (non-Disney) musical version of “Peter Pan” first debuted in 1954. The on-tour adaptation of this musical currently visiting Orlando contains many changes, big and small, which strive to bring the show into the modern era for better and worse results.

For starters, the story now takes place in modern-day America instead of early-1900s London. Despite this, the children are still interested in waltzing and the adventure stories that fascinated their early 20th-century counterparts, making them feel oddly quaint and anachronistic. Another major early change is the absence of Nana the dog, replaced by an inattentive babysitter and a throw-away joke about wanting to get a dog. Perhaps this change was made because modern parents wouldn’t leave a dog in charge of their children, but in a show with fairies and flying people, it wouldn’t have been the most outlandish thing.

On the plus side, there are several welcome changes to the classic musical to bring it in line with modern sensibilities. Gone is the incredibly racist “Ugg-a-Wugg” song and indeed any and all uses of the word “Indian.” Instead, Tiger Lily and her tribe each represent specific lost tribes of Indigenous people from all over the world.

Additionally, Wendy no longer just wants to be a mother, but also a surgeon (though this plot thread gets lost when the group travels to Never Never Land and Wendy again finds herself reveling in being a mother to the Lost Boys).

All told, the updates improve the musical for the better, allowing the old familiar story to be told without getting lost behind antiquated and offensive moments.

Flying and Fairies

From a technical perspective, the show remains a marvel, using technology both modern and classic to bring the magic to life.

Projections across the back of the stage serve to accentuate the action without being distracting. That being said, from our seats far house right, we were unable to see many of them.

The performers “fly” across the stage using systems incredibly similar to the old-school stage techniques. Yes, the cables are plainly visible, and occasionally spoil an entrance or two, like when we could see the cables behind a set piece or moving in from off stage. As a whole, though, they don’t detract from the fun choreography and the joy of seeing someone soar through the air.

Tinker Bell, the tiny fairy companion of Peter Pan, is also very cleverly brought to life on stage through a large combination of effects including projections, hand held lights, and a guy dressed all in black dangling a light on a stick (although to be fair there were many times that Tinker Bell was on stage and I, a former stage technician, could not figure out how the illusion was done, so kudos there.) 

From our seats, we didn’t notice any glaring errors or technical mishaps. Not to say they absolutely didn’t happen, but if they did, they were not distracting to the total performance.

A Magical Cast

Acting-wise, the show is led by Wendy Darling and Peter Pan, who are present and involved with the vast majority of the production. Hawa Kamara as Wendy infuses the character with a careful balance of assertiveness and coyness, bridging the classic with the modern even when the script occasionally lets her down. In the role of Peter, 17-year-old Nolan Almeida brings just enough allure and swagger to the character that audiences are both charmed by him and hoping he will change.

The supporting cast features some real standouts with Cody Garcia in the dual role of Mr. Darling and Captain Hook — two roles they play so very differently and with such distinct choices that it would have been easy to not realize it was the same actor — and Raye Zaragoza as a dynamic-and-in-charge Tiger Lily standing up to all the men.

The various children characters — the Darling kids, lost boys, and tribe members — are portrayed by a mix of adults and child actors. This means there are a bunch of adults trying to act like kids and a bunch of kids just being kids, causing the adults to look unnatural in comparison. This is not to say the children are not talented actors; on the contrary, they are very impressive. Often, children can feel very forced and unnatural on stage, but in this production they come across as the opposite. A special shoutout to young Reed Epley as Michael, who gamely keeps up with the adults around him in both his acting and the choreography.

“Peter Pan” Musical Final Thoughts

In the end, “Peter Pan” is a light and fun show that will delight children and adults alike. Contemporary updates provide refreshing alternatives to many cringe moments from the production’s former versions. The show is geared toward children, and the mix of action, music, comedy, and effects will keep them enthralled. By infusing modern sensibilities to the timelessly classic adventure, “Peter Pan” has the magic pixie dust it needs to fly past the second star to the right and straight on ’til morning.

“Peter Pan” is playing now through May 19, 2024 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Arts in Orlando, Fla.

Peter Pan’s New Ride in Tokyo

A testament to the lasting appeal of J.M. Barrie’s story, next month Tokyo DisneySea will open Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, a state-of-the-art ride, as part of its Fantasy Springs expansion. See photos from inside the attraction — and other Fantasy Springs rides based on “Tangled” and “Frozen” — in our story: