Upon entering the theatre space, the skeleton of the theatre was in full-view: catwalks, lights, harnesses, ladders, a stack of mattresses. In the theatre at the Water Tower, it would feel unnatural to imagine any other setting. Props & allusions to the forthcoming production were interspersed in the space--signs spray-painted in stencil font, a perfect clock atop a bookshelves complete with a Raggedy doll. Perfectly symmetrical lines of danging exposed light bulbs hung over the 1st few rows. The actors entered the space quietly & naturally, overlapping with the pre-show chit-chat & organically pulling the audience into their world. There was a good initial pacing and a great build-up of climactic moments. Especially relating to the appearance of Peter Pan. He appeared in the most easy slip of a moment, with charm that makes Mrs. Darling's description of him as a predator poof in smoke. Climactic moments like these were well built-up & satisfactory, but consistently delivered on a surprisingly smaller scale than the build-up would indicate. Overall, a really fresh & focused interpretation of a cool classic with a very strong strand of that Lookingglass flavor.
My favorite part about this production was
the costume design:
Having such a smart, sparse set allowed the artistic energy to largely focus on costumes. It was like a cast of human dressings, which was a clever & effective use of concentrated artistic effort.
the lost boys
They wore it all & they wore it well:
hoodies, Sunday dresses, lace, Converse sneakers,
harnesses, hats, sweaters, flannel, goggles, fingerless gloves,
winter tights, rolled-up jeans, beanie caps, & lace-up boots.
It was a perfect mismatched hodgepodge;
a creepy, sweet, weathered,
modern infusion of agelessness.
I felt echos of Oliver Twist, Narnia, Annie & loved it all.
harnesses, hats, sweaters, flannel, goggles, fingerless gloves,
winter tights, rolled-up jeans, beanie caps, & lace-up boots.
It was a perfect mismatched hodgepodge;
a creepy, sweet, weathered,
modern infusion of agelessness.
I felt echos of Oliver Twist, Narnia, Annie & loved it all.
you've never seen pirates like these
I loved both the vision & execution of the Pirates scene.
I can't say enough good things, so a video:
thematic elements:
Finding Neverland, Finding Family, Creating Family.
Coming-of-Age. In Neverland.
Casting college kids as The Lost Boys was an awkward fit at times
(due to skill levels, NOT artistic vision),
but I loved the thematic implications of
this casting decision.
To me, this casting vision & This Neverland represented
the startling change of entering college.
The Lost Boys created a family of bonds stronger than blood.
In a hard, false, first taste of adulthood,
Wendy became a dorm mom of sorts.
She made lists to take care of The Lost Boys, &
acknowledged how she became "addicted to status"
of being drunk of the power
of seeing one's self as a parent rather than a child.
It got me thinking about the parents' end of the college experience,
To watch a child get his first feet wet of adulthood,
but wanting to turn a blind eye
to the reality of that awakening.
This Neverland has a tone of the Rumspringa conflict,
where one can taste the real world,
but then has to choose
to return to the world that defines home,
or sign over to a new faith found from newfound knowledge.
my favorite phrase & moment of this production:
(attempting to describe the Darling Children's
return home after a short lifetime in Neverland)
pen cannot describe the happy scene
I can't say enough good things, so a video:
thematic elements:
Finding Neverland, Finding Family, Creating Family.
Coming-of-Age. In Neverland.
Casting college kids as The Lost Boys was an awkward fit at times
(due to skill levels, NOT artistic vision),
but I loved the thematic implications of
this casting decision.
To me, this casting vision & This Neverland represented
the startling change of entering college.
The Lost Boys created a family of bonds stronger than blood.
In a hard, false, first taste of adulthood,
Wendy became a dorm mom of sorts.
She made lists to take care of The Lost Boys, &
acknowledged how she became "addicted to status"
of being drunk of the power
of seeing one's self as a parent rather than a child.
It got me thinking about the parents' end of the college experience,
To watch a child get his first feet wet of adulthood,
but wanting to turn a blind eye
to the reality of that awakening.
This Neverland has a tone of the Rumspringa conflict,
where one can taste the real world,
but then has to choose
to return to the world that defines home,
or sign over to a new faith found from newfound knowledge.
my favorite phrase & moment of this production:
(attempting to describe the Darling Children's
return home after a short lifetime in Neverland)
pen cannot describe the happy scene
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