Playhouse Square’s ‘Peter Pan’ is Broadway magic that defies description

Photo Evan Zimmerman

There is something terribly flawed about the current Playhouse Square Broadway touring production of “Peter Pan”. No...there is not a problem with the songs, acting, stage sets, lights, sounds or video. Those are all absolutely splendid. The problem is that a show this fantastic is only going to be on stage in the Connor Palace for a mere five days total! This touring production perfectly illustrates the absolute magic that can only be found with a Broadway inspired show and all of the glorious stops are pulled out in this musical extravaganaza.

The lineage of the show begins with the 1904 play “Peter Pan” followed by the 1911 novel “Peter and Wendy” by Sir J. M. Barrie. It was later turned into a 1954 Broadway musical that starred Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook (both of whom earned Tony Awards). The music was composed by Morris (Moose) Charlap with additional music by Julie Styne. Lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

Many older citizens still remember the NBC telecasts of 1955, 1956 and 1960 with the same stars (Martin and Ritchard). The 1960 telecast became a perennial favorite for many. The Broadway show has had a number of revivals namely 1979, 1990, 1999 and now a touring production that began in 2024.

This newest touring show features a revised book by Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse that changes the Edwardian London setting to modern day America. The song “Ugg-a-Wugg” is replaced by “Friends Forever” and the originally depicted Native Americans have been replaced by a tribe of individuals who are the last of their different cultures and who have all traveled to Neverland to preserve their traditions. The song “When I Went Home” has also been restored as Peter laments his trip back home from Neverland only to find another boy sleeping in his bed.

Wendy Darling (Aubrie Mei Rubel) lives with her precocious brothers John (Owen Suarez) and Michael (Zaynn Arora) and her father (Cody Garcia) and mother (Shefali Deshpande). Late one night with the parents away (“Tender Shepard”), Wendy is visited by Peter Pan (Kruz Maldonado) who has come to retrieve his shadow that Mrs. Darling had stolen from him and put in a bureau drawer. With the help of Tinkerbell he finds his shadow but is having trouble getting it to reattach as he has mistaken rose scented lotion for glue. Wendy awakes and being a “doctor in training” offers to sew the shadow on (“I Gotta Crow”).

As a reward, Peter offers to take Wendy to Neverland (“Neverland”) along with her siblings. With a sprinkling of fairy dust, a song and “while thinking lovely thoughts” (“I’m Flying”) they are on their way to the mystical island “past the second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning”.

Upon arriving at the island they find that the inhabitants of Neverland are at odds. Tiger Lily (Bailey Frankenberg) and her tribe are in conflict with “The Lost Boys” while Captain Hook (Cody Garcia) and his crew are up to mischief with both groups (“Hook’s Tango”). With the arrival of Wendy who takes over as “Mother” (“Wendy”) with Peter Pan being “Father” (“I Won’t Grow Up”) they soon work out their problems (“Friends Forever”) and unite against Captain Hook and his crew.

This is truly a family friendly musical that will entrance the young as well as young at heart. I do give one word of caution. This is live theater and if you bring younger members of your family to see it they and you must be well versed in proper theater behavior and etiquette. In other words, once the show begins ALL TALKING STOPS! This was not the case on opening night as a family in the center of Row M kept talking throughout the entire show in spite of people shushing them repeatedly.

As for the show, it is magically spectacular beyond belief. The orchestra under the direction of Johathan Marro gives a lively and brassy performance. The scenic design by Anna Louizos astounds with seamless changes between the Darling children’s room, to Neverland, to the Lost Boys and Tribe’s home to Captain Hook’s ship and back to the Darling’s room. Sarafina Bush works her own brand of magic on outfitting the cast with each outfit intriguing in its own right. Amith Chandrashaker lights the stage in a glorious fashion and Kai Harada’s sound design tames the Connor Theater’s vastness. Of special note is the projection design by David Bengali featuring one of the wildest flying scenes ever done on stage. That alone was worth the price of the ticket. Lastly, the Tinkerbell design by Paul Kieve is enchanting to say the least.

As for the cast, they are beyond superb. Kruz Maldonado as Peter Pan is all boy and a superb master of flying. His entrance through the children’s bedroom window is a theatrical coup complete with fairy dust. Aubrie-Mei Rubel as Wendy plays the complex childlike mother figure later surgeon role perfectly. Owen Suarez as John and Zaynn Arora as Michael are the “smart beyond their years” siblings who are full of adventure and curiosity. Bailey Frankenberg as Tiger Lily very nearly steals the show with her stage presence only to be outdone by Cody Garcia as Captain Hook who ends up having the entire audience rooting for him. His side kick Smee, played by Kurt Perry, puts an entirely new spin on the role. Shefali Deshpande and Cody Garcia as the Darling parents look and act the parts.

Drop whatever you are doing and order your tickets NOW! This short run show guarantees to be a sellout and is well worth seeing. It is the magical best of Broadway brought on stage and is great viewing by the entire (as long as you behave yourself) family. These are the things that lifelong family memories are built from. Cheers!

The Playhouse Square production of “Peter Pan” will be on stage in the Connor Palace Theater at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio through April 13, 2025. for more information and to order tickets go to https://www.playhousesquare.org/ or call (216) 241-6000.