Peter Pan, which plays at Theatre By The Sea through August 8th, is not really about the acting or the singing. Peter Pan, the musical, has always been about James M. Barrie's story and, of course, the spectacle.
The book of the musical, with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Mark Charlap with additional music by Jules Styne and additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green is, for musical theater lovers, a bonus.
In this production Cary Michele Miller has been brilliantly cast in the title role of Peter Pan, the boy who won't grow up. Miller can act, can sing, dance, and if we all believe, she can fly. Miller approaches the role with genuine respect, without taking it all too seriously. Even when being swung precariously from one side of the stage to the other, Miller was never anyone but Peter.
Anna Kimmel, as Wendy Darling, joins Miller. Kimmel helps ground the production with her understated performance. The characters' mutual affection is entirely believable.
Peter S. Adams completes the trio of main characters as the nefarious Captain Hook. Adams does a fine job with the broad, flamboyant character. Even when he accidentally put his foot clean through a board on the Jolly Roger set, Adams never, for even a flicker of a second, broke character.
Rebecca Barko does a fine job in the role of Mrs. Darling. Rumford native Nicholas Mercurio plays John Darling and eight-year-old Dylan Temel from Westerly plays Michael Darling. The two young actors do a bang-up job and display incredible concentration and stamina.
The cast of, seemingly, thousands, includes Cassie Collinson, Corinne Cannon, Lauren Avarista, Matthew Meigs, Townsend Pass and Caroline Jackson as The Lost Boys.
The Pirates include Ron Sarro as a perfect Mr. Smee along with Nate Suggs, Brian Bailey, Albert Jennings, Matthew Wagner and Richard Cerato.
Krystina Almaguer plays Tiger Lilly with Kari Floberg, Taavon Gamble, Laura Graham, Jacqeline Golsch, Jillian Helms, Jose R. Luaces and Jessica Osborne as The Indians.
The production values of Peter Pan, with three complete sets, scrims and screens is high. An actual orchestra, led by Aaron McAllister adds to the big feel in the little barn.
I have always thought that with three acts, none of them short, that Peter Pan was too long for a children's play as well as being a bit too long for adults to sit through. This production didn't change my feeling. It is, however, an esthetically pleasing production of a true Broadway classic.
Peter Pan plays at Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck, RI through August 8, 2009. Tickets range from $39-$49, with $15 student rush tickets available on a limited basis one hour prior to curtain on the day of the performance. Tickets are on sale at the Box Office, located at 364 Cards Pond Road, Matunuck, RI, by phone at (401) 782-8587 or online at www.theatrebythesea.com.
Photo by Mark Turek: (from left) Anna Kimmel as Wendy Darling, Dylan Temel as Michael Darling, Nicholas Mercurio as John Darling and Cary Michele Miller as Peter Pan
