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<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A lighter but lovely
<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Peter Pan</I> returns to the
Beck<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald on
</I>12/11/09</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">In the opening act of
the James Barrie-based musical about a boy who won’t grow up, Peter Pan returns
to the Darling residence to retrieve the shadow he accidently left behind during
an earlier visit.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">In this year’s return
engagement of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Peter Pan</I> at The Beck
Center for the Arts, the shadow that Peter casts is a shade lighter than it was
last year.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Peter
Pan</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
introduces us to a child-friendly fantasy world, where adults are inept, flying
is feasible, and life’s problems can be resolved with a bit of fairy dust, a
round of clapping and some crowing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>It is a delightful story with memorable lyrics and music by Carolyn Leigh
and Mark Charlap.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was
beautifully told in last year’s production at The Beck and it is beautifully
told once again.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">For all intents and
purposes, the productions are near-mirror images. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Back is Ben Needham’s
nicely appointed Victorian-era Darling residence in act one, magical and
multi-tiered Neverlandscape in act two, and rustic deck of the pirate ship in
act three.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Each time the curtain
opens, jaws drop in the audience.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Except for some tweaking and trimming in Martin Cespedes’ inventive and
highly energetic choreography, and a few necessary modifications in Aimee
Kluiber’s pirate costuming, their contributions remain relatively
unchanged.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What is new is the
lighter tone director Scott Spence brings to an already lightweight bit of
musical theatre, which has its benefits and its drawbacks.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Gone are the rough,
belligerent edges of Peter’s personality that John Paul Soto brought to the role
last year.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What is left is a
more playful Peter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This makes the
endearing Soto even more adored by children in the audience and more accessible
to the adults who may have difficulty envisioning a small but strapping male
playing a part defined by legendary females on Broadway.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Soto is all unbridled energy and passion
on stage. He is an absolute joy to listen to and to watch.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Unfortunately, this
kinder and gentler Peter gives his small legion of Lost Boys less substance to
play off of.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They form less of a
relationship with Peter and, consequently, are not particularly distinctive or
memorable in this production.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Gone, too, is much of
the rough-housing that helped define last year’s pirates.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What remains, and is
significantly enhanced, is their buffoonery.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mugging takes the place of mild
maliciousness, and antics replace acting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The big fight sequence between the pirates, Indians and Lost Boys, for
example, is shorter and more vaudevillian this time around, with mops replacing
guns as the weapons of choice.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The pirate’s supplemented
silliness is very entertaining, but loses focus and purpose as the play
progresses.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A casualty from all
this is Captain Hook.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Actors who
take on this role tend to accentuate either the viciousness or the swishiness
established in Cyril Richard’s original performance back in the 1950s.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>George Roth, new to the role and a
superb actor, seems to realize that neither characteristic plays well in the
kinder climate created for this year’s Neverland, and is caught somewhere in
between.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He brings clever nuance
and detail to his actions, but they get lost amidst the overreactions of his
band of pirates.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Back is Alexis Floyd
and all the athleticism and energy she brings as Tiger Lilly.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her appearance and that of her talented
tribe add pace to occasionally malingering moments in the show.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their high octane dance numbers are the
production’s highlights.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Back is Kelly Smith
as Wendy, the most charming of the Darling children and a significant asset to
this production.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She lights up the
stage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">When Peter’s shadow
is found and reattached, it displays a little wear and tear but still fits
beautifully.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So, too, does the Beck
Center’s revival of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Peter Pan</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Peter
Pan</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
runs through January 3 at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which range from $17-$28,
call 216-521-2540 x 10 or visit <A href=""><FONT
color=#5588aa>www.beckcenter.org</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>