Peter Pan Soars!
By, Ginny Schaufel
Grace Arts Live current production, Peter Pan is in all ways, delightful. The story, like Peter Pan, is a timeless tale about a boy who refuses to grow up, instead, he lives his life in Neverland with Lost Boys and Tinkerbell battling Pirates and Indians and avoiding the infamous Captain Hook. The music and songs are joyful and memorable.
From her first exuberant entrance onto the stage to the final bow, Amalia Lombardi as Peter Pan is exactly what you expect Peter Pan to be. This 17 year old Junior at Lake Havasu High School brings Peter’s characteristics to life as a boy in charge, a bit boastful, wistful, mischievous, cunning, caring, lonely and fun. Amalia is confident on stage in her acting skills and her execution of the musical numbers is spot on.
As Wendy, 13 year old Savannah Rizzo brings innocence and character sincerity to her role as friend to Peter and “mother” to the lost boys. Here is another young actress who understands that success on stage means forgetting you are on stage, she is consistently “Wendy” and her singing voice is pure.
Matt Condie who plays John and Lane Daigle as Michael are at home on stage and well suited for their roles in this fun story. Both boys exhibit a confidence in their roles and in front of an audience that belies their young age.
This productions Captain Hook is not only imposing, arrogant and bullying, he is a scardie cat with a little post traumatic stress disorder in that he is constantly in fear of the crocodile that got a taste of him in time past. This character comes to life in the role well played by Ricky Van Lent, no stranger to Grace Arts Live theatre.
In counterpoint to Captain Hook is Smee who is nothing short of funny, funny, funny in this character role. Jake Ware is another experienced actor whose interpretation of Smee had this reviewer in giggles most of time he was on stage.
The Indians and Pirates can often be less than memorable in this play, not so in this production. While all the Indians and Pirates performed confidently, special commendation to Tarnim Bybee as Tiger Lily and the dancers performing with her. Their dance numbers performed on limited stage space were beautifully done, interpretively correct and well synchronized.
Peter Pan couldn’t be the story it is without the Lost Boys, all of whom were a competently organized and choreographed group of supporting actors as were Mr. and Mrs. Darling, Liza, the menacing crocodile and the beloved pet Nana.
Once again, Grace Arts Live has given Lake Havasu City a community theatre performance to be proud of. If you haven’t seen this excellent production of Community Theatre at it’s finest, you still have one weekend of performances, December 16, 17, and 18. Give yourself a holiday treat to remember and attend a performance you and your children will love.