From left, Nolan Almeida as Peter Pan, Cody Garcia as Captain Hook, Hawa Kamara as Wendy and the cast of Peter Pan.
Review
By Chad Austin
Art Director, Texas Jewish Post
If you’re looking for a cheery musical you can bring the kids to this winter season, look no further than “Peter Pan.” Currently running through Jan. 5 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, it is a part of Broadway Dallas’ long-running streak of musicals.
For avid enjoyers of musicals, there’s a lot to like about this stage production. The set pieces are fantastic. Each time they changed the scenery was always a lovely surprise — seeing just what creative ways they’d transition the whole set into something new as well as making use of a dynamic Neverland Jungle that changed states during the action.
Peter Pan’s iconic ability to fly is also a major highlight. The set possesses a massive screen in the back that animates throughout the flight scenes. During this, the cast is suspended by thin wires, appearing as if they’re magically flying to a kid’s eye.
The cast’s performances are stellar as well, most notably the performance of Captain Hook. He and his pirate crew serve as the villainous comic-relief throughout the plot, but his pompous flair and costume make him a riot to see every time he’s onstage.
With all the spectacle, this musical definitely caters to children. There’s some audience engagement cajoling the kids to believe in fairies, as well as some sillier humor meant to get them laughing. Beyond that however, there’s a level of simplicity to some of the plot points and visual effects that a child may not notice throughout the production. For instance — if you were hoping to see some tap dancing, there’s simply some shoe-tapping audio playing while the actors deftly sync their movements to what you’re hearing.
For young ones interested in a musical, this is a perfect entry-level production to see. For adults or those who have seen quite a few musicals in their lifetime, it could feel a little cheesy and silly — but in my experience, just relax and let yourself be a kid again.
After all, believing in magic and refusing to grow up is the very heart of Peter Pan’s message.
