PEORIA, IL -- The musical Finding Neverland has had good and bad reviews, so I didn't know what to expect from the touring group that played at the Peoria Civic Center Theater for two shows, on Feb. 2. I was pleasantly surprised.
The show was terrific, bolstered by a spectacular production with videos, flashing lights, even rope ladders for pirates to climb. Plus singing, dancing, great costumes and a sharp script.
The plot focuses on the author J. M. Barrie, and how he came to write Peter Pan, the story which has survived for more than a century.
At one point people in early 20th century London think he is nuts, as they sing "Circus of Your Mind." That's a useful phrase for you-know-who today.
The huge cast was quite good, and it even included talented children and a beautiful live dog, on stage in several scenes. It's a shame that the PJS did not do a better advance story on the show, though the matinee looked to be almost a sell-out. I would like to know more about that dog!
When the dog in one scene met the actor playing the dog, the live dog licked the face of the fake dog, then sniffed its behind. Very clever and funny.
The theater's sound system has not improved, and some of the dialogue was difficult to understand, and not helped by the British accents of the cast. This was not an Actor's Equity cast, but the actors did a good job anyway.
I wish I had bought a CD of the original cast recording to hear before the show, so as to better understand the lyrics of the songs. I wish supertitles would become the standard for musicals as well as operas.
Still, this was a fine show, worth the money, and its standing ovation was well deserved.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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