When I was a little girl, I had recurring dreams of flying. I still remember that incredible sensation of flying while holding my magic box. Yes, in my dreams, I had a magic cardboard box which I would hold onto and soar above my home and over the suburban landscape of my childhood. I wish I could still have that dream. I never have dreams like that anymore.
My boys, like most children, dream of flying. They've done their share as Wright Brother wannabes, flapping their arms in descent from the couch. They've worn capes and outstretched their arms. They've leaned belly first over swings, soaring over a sandbox, imagining flight.
When I see that, I smile because that's what you should be doing as a child, dreaming of flight.
I had no idea what to expect when we were invited as part of the From Left to Write Book Club to experience Peter Pan the Show in San Francisco. I loved the story of Peter Pan as a child. I've seen the Disney movie, of course. But the only theatrical interpretation of the story I knew was the one with Sandy Duncan. I love musical theater and any mention of Peter Pan sends the I'm Flying lyrics into my head.
I always thought it was odd that Peter Pan never seems to be played by a young boy. It was always hard for me to get past the lady-as-Peter-Pan thing. In the San Francisco show, it's no different, but it's closer. Peter is played by the likable Nate Fallows, a young actor not too far out of boyhood himself, but still, well well beyond a 10-year-old boy. We'll never likely see an age appropriate boy play the part of Peter Pan because there's just too much liability in all that flying about over the stage.
Once my boys and I settled into our seats in The threesixty° Theatre alongside San Francisco's Embarcadero, I had a hunch the show would be visually entertaining. I'd braced myself to have to leave during intermission because that's what always happens when in confined spaces with my wiggly boys.
It helped that we were able to grab food at the venue and eat during the performance. My boys become apt listeners when they are snacking. So with two bags of kettle corn for the boys and a box of brie cheese and charcuterie for me, we happily waited for the show to begin.
As the performance played on, it finally dawned on me that this was not a musical. Usually, I don't dare take my children to the theater unless there's some singing involved, but where there was not singing, there was flying. Lots and lots of flying.
Ok and here is where I am going to interject and give this show four stars. Seriously, any show that keeps my boys mesmerized and in their seats gets a standing ovation from me.
So if you're a hard core theater goer or if your kids don't get excited by dreams of flight, of pirates at battle and of crocodile puppets, you can stop reading. This is not the review for you (see Yelp). I didn't always watch the show, you see. Instead, I watched my boys watching the show. I watched Linsey Krolik's children watching the show. Dreams of flying aren't my thing (anymore). Pirates aren't my thing. Neither are crocodiles, real or made, as in this production, out of sticks and sting. But these kids were, um, hooked. Really and truly hooked!
It's entirely subjective whether this show is better for children or adults or whether it's a good show at all. All I can say is that my 5-year-old boys smiled, laughed and were attentive during the entire show. We didn't have to leave during intermission! They clapped and loved that they could see the wires attached to the actors' waists (so smart my kids, spotting that. Ahem.). I also enjoy having my children experience live theater, an experience I never had as a child.
If you have ever had the chance to Soar Over California at Disney California Adventures, this is that, only you're soaring over the rooftops of London and into the mystical world of J M Barrie's Peter Pan.
The 360 theater literally flies the audience to Neverland. I wanted to take photos of my children during the flight sequences because it's all about one word: awe. My kids were awestruck. While we will never experience flight like this in real life, this is as close as it gets to the sensation of flight we had in our childhood dreams.
After the show, we mingled with the actors, who signed autographs and posed for photos. Then I made the mistake of buying my boys foam pirates swords from the gift shop and my boys went off to play with the other children, all lost in their imaginary world.
Then we all went home, eager to get to bed so we could dream of flying.
Peter Pan the Show opened in San Francisco on May 9, 2010 and runs through August 29, 2010.
This is an original post to Chalk and Cheese Chronicles.
Disclosure: I received 3 complimentary tickets to see Peter Pan the Musical. The opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.
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