Index Top Bar

Royal City Musical Theatre

Peter Pan: The Musical

Based on the play by James M. Barrie

Director Lloyd Nicholson Musical Director James Bryson Costume Chris Sinosich Sound Tim Lang Stage Manager Sean Ullman Melissa Powell

Date 20 April - 7 May 2006 Venue Bell Performing Arts Centre

Reviewer Heidi Hoff


Kazumi Evans (as Wendy), Amy Wallis (in back as Peter Pan), Reece

Royal City Musical Theatre’s production of Peter Pan is sheer energy from start to finish. Never a company to disappoint, Royal City pulls out all the stops in this production and delivers a lively, professional performance to impress audiences of all ages.

The orchestra swells and red velvet curtains illuminated with "Peter Pan the Musical," reminiscent of the start of a Disney film, set the tone for the play. The opening scene takes place in the Darling nursery. Wendy, John and Michael, played brilliantly by Kazumi Evans, Reece Rowat and Aidan Drummond, replete with English accents, are being put to bed by their parents before they go out for the evening. The conversation revolves around Nana, the family dog/nanny who had earlier chased away a strange boy at the window who vanished so quickly he left his shadow behind.

The anticipation builds as we wait for Peter (Amy Wallis) to make his entrance to reclaim his shadow and he doesn’t disappoint. The windows of the nursery fly open and in Peter soars, magic dust flying from his hands. The children are enthralled and agree to join him in Neverland with Wendy taking on the role of mother to Peter and the Lost Boys. The scene with the three children and Peter singing “I’m Flying” and gliding away is one of the most memorable of the production. It’s a wonder that they didn’t get tangled up in each other’s wires!

Act two introduces a bug-eyed Captain Hook (James Fagan Tait) and his bumbling sidekick, Smee (Andrew Halladay), who scheme to do away with Peter as it was he who is responsible for Hook’s missing hand. High energy song and dance segments choreographed by Valerie Easton are peppered throughout, with “Ugh-a-Wug” showcasing Tiger Lily and her tribe as one of the most impressive.

The production ends after two and half hours (including two intermissions) with the children returning home. They’ve brought the Lost Boys with them, hoping that their parents will adopt them. Peter wants to remain a boy forever so he opts to return to Neverland. Wendy promises she will visit him once a year for spring cleaning.    

I often wondered if Wallis would run out of energy in the demanding role of Peter. As a testament to her true talent, she never did. The cast and crew did an outstanding job of transporting us to Neverland along with them. They certainly deserved the standing ovation they received at the end.

For more information, visit Royal City Musical Theatre

© 2006 Heidi Hoff