[NEohioPAL]Review of PETER PAN in Cleveland Jewish News

[Martin Friedman]

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            Review for Lakeland Theatre's production of 
       PETER PAN OR THE BOY WHO WOULD NOT GROW UP
                                   By Sir James M. Barrie
 
Production Dates:
           Sunday, July 17 @ 2pm and 7:30pm
           Friday, July 22 @ 8pm
          Saturday, July 23 @ 2pm and 8pm
          Sunday, July 24 @ 2pm and 7:30pm
             For ticket information call: 440.525.7034 or 440.525.4747.
 
Arts
Clap if you believe! 
By: EMILY YAHR Ritter Family Intern
Magdalyn Donnelly and Brian Bowers bring sparkling chemistry to Wendy's and Peter's relationship in "Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up." 
Lakeland Theater production captures heart and soul of timeless classic "Peter Pan"

Mary Martin, Johnny Depp, and many less well-known actors in between: Countless performers and theater groups have done versions of Sir J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, the beloved children's tale of a boy who yearns to stay a child forever. 
Lakeland Theater takes its turn with "Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up." Lakeland is only the third theater in the United States to perform this adaptation written by John Caird and Trevor Nunn; their version restores much of the content of Barrie's original script and is a straight play without musical elements.

Director Martin Friedman successfully brings the audience into the bizarre fantasy world of Neverland, where children make up their own rules, pirates run amok, and an alligator with a ticking clock in its stomach patrols the grounds. It's a place that can only be reached on the deepest level of a child's innocent mind, yet adults' wide-eyed expressions during the play made it clear they wanted to be there, as well.

Using Bob Keefe and Dolores Boda to humorously narrate, Friedman turns the play into a story within a story within a story, mirroring the depths of a child's imagination.

The focus is mainly on the children n Wendy Darling, whose relationship with Peter Pan turns quite complicated; the Lost Boys, Neverland's children coping without parents; and Peter Pan, trying to spread his belief that children should never become adults.

Especially noteworthy are performances by Mark Cipra (Mr. Darling), Magdalyn Donnelly (Wendy Darling) and Brian Bowers (Peter Pan). Cipra bellows every line, and got most of the laughs early in the show with his stage wife Anna Davis (Mrs. Darling).

Wendy and Peter play off each other with perfect timing and undeniable chemistry. The relationship becomes rather serious, ending up in a type of love triangle with Peter's fairy friend, Tinker Bell, played mostly in microphone voiceover by Kristen M. Smith. Wendy perceives Peter as more than a friend, but Peter, stuck in a child's mindset, can't quite comprehend true love.

In this version of the children's tale, Tinker Bell is extremely jealous, wanting all of Peter's affection. But her fairy goodness is redeemed when she drinks Peter's poisonous medicine to save him. That scene, probably the play's best known, had the entire audience clapping vigorously, proving their belief in fairies and ultimately bringing Tinker Bell back to life.

Some of the play's more sophisticated themes are also examined, such as the parental abandonment of the Lost Boys, Wendy's maturation into a mother figure, and Peter Pan's struggle to stay eternally young.

While the scenes with the children are the most endearing, Captain Hook (a double-casted Mark Cipra), and his right-hand man Smee, (Robert McCoy) obviously had a devilishly good time acting out some of the children's most feared characters. Filled with slapstick, their scenes were also incredibly amusing.

The carefully placed books and toys in the Darlings' exquisite Victorian bedroom (designed by Keith Nagy) made it seem as if the three children really lived and played there. The rocking horse in the corner added to the effect of the early 1900's time period.

When the children arrive in Neverland, the scenery is plainer compared to the Darling house. But leave it to a child's imagination: Among the green vines and trees, several trap doors are hidden.

Flamboyant, tattered costumes of Neverland's pirates and Lost Boys were designed by Craig Tucker and John Larger. The props are clever as well, particularly a beach umbrella turned temporary house.

The performance will delight children, who get to marvel at pirates, an alligator, a fairy, and Peter himself as he flies across the stage. But adults will also find much to love in this version of the timeless classic, as they reflect on the deeper issues of the play.

"Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up" is running from July 8-July 24 at Lakeland Community College's Performing Arts Center, 7700 Clocktower Drive in Kirtland. For ticket information call Martin Friedman at 440-525-7034. 
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#c00000 size=4>            Review for Lakeland Theatre's production of </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#54466f size=4>       PETER PAN OR THE BOY WHO WOULD NOT GROW UP</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff409f size=3>                                   By Sir James M. Barrie</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff409f size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#441415 size=3>Production Dates:</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff409f size=3>           Sunday, July 17 @ 2pm and 7:30pm</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff409f size=3>           Friday, July 22 @ 8pm</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff409f size=3>          Saturday, July 23 @ 2pm and 8pm</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff409f size=3>          Sunday, July 24 @ 2pm and 7:30pm</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#ff409f size=3>             For ticket information call: 440.525.7034 or 440.525.4747.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Arts</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=headline align="left">Clap if you believe! </SPAN>
<P class=byline align=left>By: EMILY YAHR Ritter Family Intern</P>
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<TD><IMG src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/pim/el/spc_eee1.gif" border=0></TD></TR>
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<TD class=cutline>Magdalyn Donnelly and Brian Bowers bring sparkling chemistry to Wendy's and Peter's relationship in "Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up." </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=content align=left>Lakeland Theater production captures heart and soul of timeless classic "Peter Pan"<BR><BR>Mary Martin, Johnny Depp, and many less well-known actors in between: Countless performers and theater groups have done versions of Sir J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, the beloved children's tale of a boy who yearns to stay a child forever. 
<P align=left><SPAN class=content>Lakeland Theater takes its turn with "Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up." Lakeland is only the third theater in the United States to perform this adaptation written by John Caird and Trevor Nunn; their version restores much of the content of Barrie's original script and is a straight play without musical elements.<BR><BR>Director Martin Friedman successfully brings the audience into the bizarre fantasy world of Neverland, where children make up their own rules, pirates run amok, and an alligator with a ticking clock in its stomach patrols the grounds. It's a place that can only be reached on the deepest level of a child's innocent mind, yet adults' wide-eyed expressions during the play made it clear they wanted to be there, as well.<BR><BR>Using Bob Keefe and Dolores Boda to humorously narrate, Friedman turns the play into a story within a story within a story, mirroring the depths of a child's imagination.<BR><BR>The focus is mainly on the
 children n Wendy Darling, whose relationship with Peter Pan turns quite complicated; the Lost Boys, Neverland's children coping without parents; and Peter Pan, trying to spread his belief that children should never become adults.<BR><BR>Especially noteworthy are performances by Mark Cipra (Mr. Darling), Magdalyn Donnelly (Wendy Darling) and Brian Bowers (Peter Pan). Cipra bellows every line, and got most of the laughs early in the show with his stage wife Anna Davis (Mrs. Darling).<BR><BR>Wendy and Peter play off each other with perfect timing and undeniable chemistry. The relationship becomes rather serious, ending up in a type of love triangle with Peter's fairy friend, Tinker Bell, played mostly in microphone voiceover by Kristen M. Smith. Wendy perceives Peter as more than a friend, but Peter, stuck in a child's mindset, can't quite comprehend true love.<BR><BR>In this version of the children's tale, Tinker Bell is extremely jealous, wanting all of Peter's affection. But her
 fairy goodness is redeemed when she drinks Peter's poisonous medicine to save him. That scene, probably the play's best known, had the entire audience clapping vigorously, proving their belief in fairies and ultimately bringing Tinker Bell back to life.<BR><BR>Some of the play's more sophisticated themes are also examined, such as the parental abandonment of the Lost Boys, Wendy's maturation into a mother figure, and Peter Pan's struggle to stay eternally young.<BR><BR>While the scenes with the children are the most endearing, Captain Hook (a double-casted Mark Cipra), and his right-hand man Smee, (Robert McCoy) obviously had a devilishly good time acting out some of the children's most feared characters. Filled with slapstick, their scenes were also incredibly amusing.<BR><BR>The carefully placed books and toys in the Darlings' exquisite Victorian bedroom (designed by Keith Nagy) made it seem as if the three children really lived and played there. The rocking horse in the corner
 added to the effect of the early 1900's time period.<BR><BR>When the children arrive in Neverland, the scenery is plainer compared to the Darling house. But leave it to a child's imagination: Among the green vines and trees, several trap doors are hidden.<BR><BR>Flamboyant, tattered costumes of Neverland's pirates and Lost Boys were designed by Craig Tucker and John Larger. The props are clever as well, particularly a beach umbrella turned temporary house.<BR><BR>The performance will delight children, who get to marvel at pirates, an alligator, a fairy, and Peter himself as he flies across the stage. But adults will also find much to love in this version of the timeless classic, as they reflect on the deeper issues of the play.<BR><BR>"Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up" is running from July 8-July 24 at Lakeland Community College's Performing Arts Center, 7700 Clocktower Drive in Kirtland. For ticket information call Martin Friedman at 440-525-7034.</SPAN> 
<P align=left><A href="http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2005/07/14/features/arts/arts0715.prt" target=_blank><SPAN class=print><FONT color=#003399>Print this story</FONT></SPAN></A> </P><!-- toctype = X-unknown --><!-- toctype = text --><!-- text --><!-- END TOC --></DIV><p>
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