Review: 'Peter Pan' at Herndon High School

by Alexa Tucker of Westfield High School

“Second star to the right, and straight on till morning!” Peter cried, and with that, he, Wendy, John, and Michael launched themselves into the starry night sky and began their epic adventure in Herndon High School’s production of “Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up,” a new adaptation by John Caird and Trevor Nunn.

This fantastical story, complete with mischievous children, bloodthirsty pirates, and a ticking crocodile, first captured the imaginations of the public when the play “Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up,” written by J.M. Barrie, premiered in London in 1904. The play went on to a long run on Broadway soon after, and Barrie followed up with a novel version in 1911. Possibly the most-well known version of the story, the Disney animated adaptation hit movie theaters in 1953; a well-loved musical adaptation premiered on Broadway the following year, which has been broadcast on TV multiple times.

From the moment Peter and the children landed in Neverland, they were swept up into endless adventures – but only after they had their tea, of course. From building Wendy a house to rescuing Tiger Lily to fighting off pirates, the excitement never ceased. At several points, the audience played a part in the story. When Tinkerbell swallowed poison in order to save Peter’s life, Peter pleaded for the audience to clap if they believed in fairies. The thunderous response saved Tinkerbell’s life, and the audience rejoiced as the revived fairy flitted to and fro above the stage once more.

As the title character, Nathan Burns embodied Peter Pan’s adventurous spirit and childish immaturity. From his very first moment on the stage, soaring through the Darling’s bedroom window amid gasps of surprise and awe from the audience, he endeared himself to the audience with his youthful naiveté. Especially sweet were his interactions with Sarah Overton as the motherly Wendy, such as when Wendy offered to give Peter a kiss. To Wendy’s surprise, Peter held out his hand. When Wendy asked if he knew what a kiss was, he cheerfully responded, “No, but I will know when you give it to me!”

Annie Taylor brought finesse and vivacity to her role as the Storyteller. Taking on the responsibility of transitioning the show from scene to scene, Taylor masterfully commanded the stage when necessary before seamlessly blending in to the background of each scene when she was no longer needed. The rambunctious Lost Boys ensemble elicited laughs from the audience with their rowdy antics. Although some ad-libbed lines detracted from the action, their strong group dynamic added energy to the show. Playing both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook, Moritz Barth brought enthusiasm to his roles with his varied facial expressions and empathetic gestures.

Peter Pan is a show with difficult technical aspects, but Herndon High School skillfully took on the challenge. Most impressive was the fly system, which, along with a bit of pixie dust, allowed Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and the children to actually lift off the ground and soar effortlessly across the stage. The massive sets, including the nursery, the Lost Boys’ hideout, and the pirate ship, were thoughtfully put together to allow for easier transitions, and included imaginative features such as a slide in the hideout.

Members of the audience might not be able to stop themselves from aging, but Herndon High School’s successful production of Peter Pan certainly reminded them of the wonders of childhood and believing in magic.