Fly Away to “Finding Neverland”
By Skip Sheffield
J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan fantasy has been enchanting people
for more than 100 years.
“Finding Neverland,” a musical back-story on how Barrie came
up with his ideas, runs through June 25 at Broward Center for the Arts.
This is a precision Disney Broadway show with vivid screen
projections, clever set pieces and dazzling light design. It is distinguished
by particularly strong leads. Foremost of these is Will Ray in the role of J.M.
Barrie. Ray has an exquisite tenor voice, but he will be in the role only
through June 16 when it will be taken over by Noah Plomgren through June 18 and
then Billy Harrison Tighe through June 25. Knowing Disney they will be equally
up to the task.
Christine Dwyer has an equally exquisite soprano as Sylvia
Llewelyn Davies, who was the model for Mrs. Darling in the finished story. She
was the widowed mother of the four boys who inspired Barrie to create his
juvenile characters.
James Graham has created a clever book based on historical
research on author Barrie, with sly theatrical references which provide the
show with much of its humor. It also provides romantic intrigue. Barrie was
married to the disapproving Mary (Laol Van Keuren through June 18; Kristine
Reese through June 25), who thought his fixation with Mrs. Davies’ boys and the
widow herself was unhealthy and immoral. She felt her husband should “grow up,”
which is exactly what Peter Pan and Barrie himself never wanted to do.
The songs, by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, advance the
story entertainingly. They are played by a full live orchestra with an amazing
sound system. Outstanding are Barrie’s solo “Imagination;” the production
number “Believe;” “Sylvia’s Lullaby;” the four-part “Circus of Your Mind;” the
duet “What You Mean to Me” and the title song “Neverland.”
A real surprise was Rory Donovan in the role of gruff
American producer Charles Frohman, a baritone who unleashes his amazing range
in his solo on “Circus of Your Mind.”
Then of course there are the boys and a beautiful shaggy
dog. One of the boys, Ben Kreiger, is from Palm Beach Gardens. He has been with
the show eight months in rotation with a couple of the boys. At age 12 he has
been on the road two years.
“I really excited about returning to normal life when I leave
this show,” he said. “But I will be sad I am not performing every night.”
Tickets are $26-$131. Call 954-462-0222 or go to www.browardcenter.org.
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