http://au.artshub.com/au/news-article/reviews/performing-arts/peter-pan-193474
Geraldine Hakewill, Megan Holloway, Harriet Dyer, John Leary, Paula Arundell, Jimi Bani & Gareth Davies. Photo by Brett Boardman.
This new production of the much loved JM Barrie classic is being performed to packed houses and a rapturous reception at Belvoir St’s upstairs theatre. The now traditional plot and storyline have been kept, but the story has been marvellously updated and transposed to the Australian suburbs of the 1980’s.
Playwright Tommy Murphy has adapted Barrie’s original 1904 pantomime; his script also draws upon the 1911 novella Peter and Wendy and the moving epilogue, When Wendy Grows Up, and wonderfully captures the story’s air of childlike innocence, enchantment, and imagination.
The production is in some ways low tech (except for the special lighting effects) and it is performed in the style of the previous Belvoir/Theatre of Image collaboration, The Book of Everything. Robert Cousins’ set, a cluttered children’s bedroom, fluidly transforms with the simplest of props to become everything from dangerous rocks to a pirate ship, a lagoon, rolling seas and lolling mermaids with scuba flipper fins. Wonderful fun.
It is also funny towards the end when the Lost Boys arrive at the Darlings like a line of washing hanging out the window .The ‘flying’ is joyously handled, using our imagination. Much fun is also had with the use of percussion, bells and lighting; pitched battles and Tinker Bell are each brought to life in this way.
The children behind me absolutely loved it and there was lots of laughter from all in the audience throughout. There is fine ensemble acting by all, and the cast have a marvellous time, joyously playing assorted children, Lost Boys and pirates. There is a running sight gag with the ‘twins’, while special mention must be made of John Leary as both the paper-hat wearing Smee and Nana, as well as Megan Holloway as Michael and Tiger Lily. Paula Arundell is terrific as the loving Mrs Darling, and also in her other roles.
The terribly handsome Charlie Garber has a wonderful time as the sternly loving and put-upon Mr Darling, and hogs the limelight as the delightfully wicked Captain Hook. Magnificent! His plaintive monologue, lamenting that no children want to play him as they all want to play Peter, is rather sad and gains our sympathy. He also has an exquisite and lyrical description of the definition of the word ‘Mother’.
As Wendy, the tallest, oldest, rather bossy child, who is adopted by the Lost Boys as their ‘mother’, Geraldine Hakewill is terrific, with rather prim elocution.
Meyne Wyatt as Peter is outstanding. He is confident and mischievous (‘Oh the cleverness of me!’), a rather strange loner who never wants to grow up. There is a feeling of alienation and otherworldly-ness in his portrayal. (His entrance via the window is tremendous). Gareth Davies has great fun as Peter’s shadow and is delightful as Slightly.
On one level, the play can be read as a search for one’s lost mother – even the hardened adults like Hook desperately want one. So, given this is Australia of the 1980’s, could the Lost Boys be part of the Stolen Generation? It is also all about the fragile innocence of childhood – Peter doesn’t want to go to school; he just wants to be a boy and have fun all the time.
Children will tap into this production because of the emphasis on imagination and play. For those of us now unable to fly because of adult cares, Peter Pan can provide a poignant revisiting of our long vanished childhood. If you haven’t already treated yourself, book now.
‘And so it will go on, as long as children are young, innocent and heartless...’
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Peter Pan
By J.M. Barrie
Adapted by Tommy Murphy
Director: Ralph Myers
Set Designer: Robert Cousins
Costume Designer: Alice Babidge
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Composer & Sound Designer: Stefan Gregory
Assistant Director: Isaac Drandic
Fight Director: Scott Witt
Choreographer: Sara Black
Cast: Paula Arundell, Jimi Bani, Gareth Davies, Harriet Dyer, Charlie Garber, Geraldine Hakewill, Megan Holloway, John Leary and Meyne Wyatt
Belvoir St, Surry Hills
5 January – 10 February
Playwright Tommy Murphy has adapted Barrie’s original 1904 pantomime; his script also draws upon the 1911 novella Peter and Wendy and the moving epilogue, When Wendy Grows Up, and wonderfully captures the story’s air of childlike innocence, enchantment, and imagination.
The production is in some ways low tech (except for the special lighting effects) and it is performed in the style of the previous Belvoir/Theatre of Image collaboration, The Book of Everything. Robert Cousins’ set, a cluttered children’s bedroom, fluidly transforms with the simplest of props to become everything from dangerous rocks to a pirate ship, a lagoon, rolling seas and lolling mermaids with scuba flipper fins. Wonderful fun.
It is also funny towards the end when the Lost Boys arrive at the Darlings like a line of washing hanging out the window .The ‘flying’ is joyously handled, using our imagination. Much fun is also had with the use of percussion, bells and lighting; pitched battles and Tinker Bell are each brought to life in this way.
The children behind me absolutely loved it and there was lots of laughter from all in the audience throughout. There is fine ensemble acting by all, and the cast have a marvellous time, joyously playing assorted children, Lost Boys and pirates. There is a running sight gag with the ‘twins’, while special mention must be made of John Leary as both the paper-hat wearing Smee and Nana, as well as Megan Holloway as Michael and Tiger Lily. Paula Arundell is terrific as the loving Mrs Darling, and also in her other roles.
The terribly handsome Charlie Garber has a wonderful time as the sternly loving and put-upon Mr Darling, and hogs the limelight as the delightfully wicked Captain Hook. Magnificent! His plaintive monologue, lamenting that no children want to play him as they all want to play Peter, is rather sad and gains our sympathy. He also has an exquisite and lyrical description of the definition of the word ‘Mother’.
As Wendy, the tallest, oldest, rather bossy child, who is adopted by the Lost Boys as their ‘mother’, Geraldine Hakewill is terrific, with rather prim elocution.
Meyne Wyatt as Peter is outstanding. He is confident and mischievous (‘Oh the cleverness of me!’), a rather strange loner who never wants to grow up. There is a feeling of alienation and otherworldly-ness in his portrayal. (His entrance via the window is tremendous). Gareth Davies has great fun as Peter’s shadow and is delightful as Slightly.
On one level, the play can be read as a search for one’s lost mother – even the hardened adults like Hook desperately want one. So, given this is Australia of the 1980’s, could the Lost Boys be part of the Stolen Generation? It is also all about the fragile innocence of childhood – Peter doesn’t want to go to school; he just wants to be a boy and have fun all the time.
Children will tap into this production because of the emphasis on imagination and play. For those of us now unable to fly because of adult cares, Peter Pan can provide a poignant revisiting of our long vanished childhood. If you haven’t already treated yourself, book now.
‘And so it will go on, as long as children are young, innocent and heartless...’
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Peter Pan
By J.M. Barrie
Adapted by Tommy Murphy
Director: Ralph Myers
Set Designer: Robert Cousins
Costume Designer: Alice Babidge
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Composer & Sound Designer: Stefan Gregory
Assistant Director: Isaac Drandic
Fight Director: Scott Witt
Choreographer: Sara Black
Cast: Paula Arundell, Jimi Bani, Gareth Davies, Harriet Dyer, Charlie Garber, Geraldine Hakewill, Megan Holloway, John Leary and Meyne Wyatt
Belvoir St, Surry Hills
5 January – 10 February
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