Review: 'Peter Pan' Delights Audiences Young and Old

It's always hit or miss when taking little kids to the theater.   You aren't quite sure when they are going to have enough of sitting still and being quiet.  I had some anxiety when asked to review the Paper Mill Playhouses' production of "Peter Pan" with my kids.  But "Peter Pan" is my 5 year old's favorite movie (the 2003 live action version), and he was Peter Pan this year for Halloween so I figured, why not give it a shot?

I'm glad we did.  From the moment the house lights dimmed to the final curtain both my children were utterly mesmerized by the performance.  They weren't alone.  The theater was packed with children many on the edge of their seats and many younger than my 5 year old, which made for some humorous moments.  At a pivotal moment where Peter, played by Nancy Anderson, asks the audience if they believe in fairies, a small voice from the audience shouted "I DO!" in earnest.  At another point, Captain Hook, played brilliantly by Douglas Sills, asks Smee, played by John O'Creagh, what was making the rooster noises only to be answered by a child who shouted from the back of the theater "It's Peter Pan!"  The audience erupted in laughter, which Sills used to his advantage and took a moment to give us a hilarious reproachful look.

Children in the audience were delighted by the energentic dance numbers and the silly antics of the cast.  Older children and adults were equally delighted by the more sophisticated dialogue that went over younger children's heads. 

In spite of my both my kids pointing out that they could see the flying lines not only in the air but as they pulled the characters' costumes up in an obvious manner, they were both mesmorized by the flying scenes.  "Michael is the best part," my 10 year old told me during intermission. "He has only a few lines of dialogue to memorize and he gets to fly. I would love that!"

Sills steals every scene he's in, ad-libbing hilariously and playing the long suffering effete villian as well as the nervous Mr. Darling.  Anderson plays the rough and tumble Pan in the vein of Sandy Duncan and Mary Martin, energetically and deliberately.  Hayley Podschun is a good balance to Peter as the prissy Wendy, and Jessica Lee Goldyn displays incredible atheletic prowess as Tiger Lily.  Her dancing is truly incredible. 

I was amazed at what a big production Pan is.  I overheard another audience member tell a friend, "I've been to four shows on Broadway this week and this show is bigger than any of them." The cast is huge, the costumes elaborate. My son asked if we could take the pirate ship set home so he could have it in our backyard. The next day he drew me pictures of Peter Pan flying in Neverland complete with the crocodile with the glowing eyes.  He also decided he wanted to wear his dad's pajamas on his head to school today, "like Captain Hook's helper!" (Smee).

If you have young children and are hestitant to take them to the theater or are looking for a show to introduce them to the theater, take them to see the Paper Mill production of Peter Pan.  And as an added bonus, you'll find you'll enjoy it immensely.

"Peter Pan" will run through June 27. Performances will be held on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92.  Student rush tickets are $20 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID.  Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343 or visiting the Paper Mill Box Office or www.papermill.org.

Jaleh Teymourian Brahms writes Motherhood in Millburn, which appears on Fridays.