The Wick’s Peter Pan Soars When The Music’s Playing

By Bill Hirschman, FloridaTheaterOnStage.com, for  SouthFloridaReporter.com, Aug 10, 2015 – The Wick Theatre’s lush production of Peter Pan is thrilling whenever it breaks into song, spinning spells of gently whimsical fantasy.

Otherwise, with a few notable exceptions, this second production of The Wick’s first summer season settles for being a modestly entertaining evening worth bringing your kids or just yourself if you don’t have kids.

But the sense of wonder is ephemeral. It’s hard for adults or even youngsters to be thoroughly enchanted when you can see the metaphoric wires hauling the actors and the show aloft. Even with everyone connected to the show investing considerable imagination and wit, it’s a challenge to lose yourself in the dream.

But not quite impossible. Michael Ursua’s production passes the crucial test: In a classic scene when Tinker Bell drinks poison to save Peter’s life, our hero pleads with the audience to clap in affirmation to save her life. Here is a moment equally beloved and lampooned in theater history. “Do you believe in fairies?” Peters calls out to the audience. For a terrifying split-second, there was silence opening night. Then the voice of a youngster called out in the darkness, “Yes,” and the entire crowd of grandparents, cynics, musical theater buffs, even critics cheered, whooped and happily applauded.