By LeAnna Hamblin and Guest Reviewer Jeremy Howe
Upon entering the newly restored Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden, Utah, the audience is whisked away to another time and place—to the land of Peter Pan. With twinkling stars and a place where childhood never vanishes, Broadway’s timeless musical, Peter Pan, written by J.M. Barrie, music by Morris “Moose” Charlap, is beautifully presented by Ogden Musical Theatre. The original 1954 Broadway production, starring Mary Martin, earned multiple Tony Awards and has since been revived on television and Broadway.
Director Jim Christian stays true to the roots of the classic musical in casting Peter Pan, played by the very talented Mickey Larson. Larson steps into the role of Peter with the innocence and energy needed to convince the audience that staying a young boy is always going to be better than growing up. Her vocals are effortless and light and add an air of exuberance necessary to carry the extremely talented cast through the night sky of Neverland. Music director Derek Myler has ample talent to work with in this delightful cast.
The Darling children, Wendy (Jessica Lewis), Michael (Axel Simons), and John (Zack Abercrombie), are more than willing to follow Peter to Neverland and become part of his tribe, with Wendy acting as mother. Lewis’ sweet voice is perfect for this role as lost-boy matron. She is naturally caring and kind to her adopted troop of boys. Simons and Abercrombie fit right in with the rag-tag gang but aren’t afraid to stand up to Captain Hook (Addison Welch) when he attempts to capture the whole lot of them. Welch’s comedic timing is perfect for this role and has the audience laughing with (or at) him every time he is onstage. As he interacts with his band of pirates, their individual personalities and character traits shine through. Smee, played by Nick Morris, is especially entertaining as he always tries to stay on Hook’s good side.
The choreography throughout the show is perfectly presented by each performer. Jessica Merrill does an outstanding job making sure the movement matches each character or ensemble group. Larson’s boundless energy as Peter is infectious. Her movement and excitement draw the audience in and makes them believe that anything is possible. Hook’s band of pirates are physically synchronized and add a layer of comedy through their dance. The standout choreography is the contemporary style dance of “Warrior Dance,” performed by Tiger Lily (Allison Hogge) and her Neverland Tribe. They are precise and grounded in their movement, creating a feeling of warriors who are ready to go to battle.
The attention to detail from Costume Designer Alicia Kondrick adds to the overall feel of the show. Each character in the ensemble has a distinct personality and that is portrayed through their costumes, especially in the band of pirates and the Neverland tribe. The beautiful set, designed by George Maxwell, also plays a huge part in transporting the audience to London and then Neverland and back. The small details in the Darling nursery truly add to the feel of the household and how the children see the world through their imaginations. And although each scene has a beautiful set that helps to tell the story, my favorite part of Neverland is Hook’s ship. The interactive features of this particular set piece allows the audience to feel as if they are on the ship with Hook and his crew as they try to dispose of the Lost Boys. Each nook and cranny is used to the full extent, allowing most of the cast to be onstage at one time without being overcrowded. The technical elements used in this production are of professional quality and design, including the use of flying the actors to make the story come alive. Lighting Designer Hayden Wadsworth uses lighting to set the mood of each scene and most notably, with his brilliant design gives Peter his shadow back.
As incredible as this production is, my favorite part of the story is the actual building where the production takes place. Peery’s Egyptian Theater has been an icon in the Ogden community for many decades. In recent years, the theater has been undergoing a long restorative process with the support of Weber County Commissioners James H. “Jim” Harvey, Gage Froerer, and Scott Jenkins. Tonight, after the curtain closed, the iconic blade that adorns the theater was once again lit up after numerous years of being dark. Under the artistic direction of Maurie Tarbox, Ogden Musical Theatre is in its third season and is quickly growing, adding two additional productions to next year’s season. None of this would be possible without the support of the community and many individuals. As a prelude to the opening of Peter Pan, Ogden Musical Theatre held a reception in honor of Utah State Senator, F. Ann Millner, the recipient of the 2019 Pharaoh Award. This award is presented to honor Millner’s selfless dedication to education and the arts. As a doctoral graduate from Brigham Young University, Millner began her unparalleled service in the community in 1982 as the 20th president, and first female president, of Weber State College. Millner has spent countless hours educating future leaders, but has always insisted that a solid, well-rounded education include education in the arts. Millner was instrumental in bringing music and theater education to the forefront at Weber State and advocated tirelessly for the restoration of Peery’s Egyptian Theater and the formation of Ogden Musical Theatre. Congratulations to Senator Millner in receiving this prestigious award and thank you for your continued support of the arts.
Ogden Musical Theatre’s production Peter Panis truly a delight for the whole family and a trip to Peery’s Egyptian Theater is absolutely worth it. The feeling of community one gets from attending this family-friendly event is heartwarming and encourages involvement in the arts.
Ogden Musical Theatre presents Peter Pan, written by J.M. Barrie, Music by Morris “Moose” Charlap.
Peery’s Egyptian Theatre, 2415 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401
July 25-August 10, 2019 7:30 PM, Monday, Thursday-Saturday, July 26, August 3, 10 Matinee 2:00 PM
Tickets: $15-$20
Contact: 801-689-8700 http://www.egyptiantheaterogden.com
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