by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Daytona Beach’s Seaside Music Theater opened its final show of the summer season last weekend with the musical version of Peter Pan. This show will run through August 19th and is an absolute must-see for adults and children.
This is the fairy tale story of Peter Pan, the never-aging boy who transports the three Darling children to the world of Neverland with its indians, pirates, and lost boys. The show is filled with many adventures but the most daunting is outwitting the big bad Captain Hook. The only other production of this show in the North Florida area was with Cathy Rigby in the title role as part of the FCCJ Artist Series several years ago. It’s rare to find it on a community theatre stage because few have the ability to make actors fly. Yes, flying actors, Indians and pirates, what else could you ask for? Well, with Seaside’s production in the beautiful News-Journal Center, you get massive, mind-blowing sets of a pirate ship, Neverland and the Darling home. You get gorgeous costumes (including the most stylish Indians you have even seen). You will love the wiggling and wagging crocodiles that actually got exit applause.
Fresh from performing for Walt Disney World in Beauty and the Beast, Maria Kerrigan is the perfect Peter Pan (Eat your heart out Mary Martin and Cathy Rigby, Maria is the best “Pan” ever). Bright-eyed, athletic, and with a marvelous singing voice, Ms. Kerrigan will have you searching for Neverland just to be with her. It was exciting to see one of the founding members of SMT back on stage. Julia Davidson Truillo has thrilled audiences with her wonderful voice in many SMT productions over the years and she is outstanding as Mrs. Darling in this show. Julia solved her babysitter problem as her fifth grade son, Michael, is one of the Lost Boys (and very good one too).
The first play I reviewed at Seaside was in l988 and Mark Chambers was in it. Over the years he established himself as an SMT favorite, but he has been away for a couple of years. He is back and better than ever as the villainous Captain Hook. He mugs the audience with his performance and his magnificent voice. You will be “hooked” on Mark Chambers after you see Peter Pan. Peter Pan and Wizard of Oz are probably the two best musicals ever conceived as family entertainment. About half of the Sunday afternoon audience were children and they were totally mesmerized by what was happening on the stage, which spilled over into the audience with pirates and indians running up and down the aisles, interacting with the kids. This was the most audience participation I have seen since The Rocky Horror Show.
I was one of the lucky recipients of “fairy dust” thanks to a flyover by Peter Pan , but I was not able to fly. You see I am grown up (physically, anyway) and only children gain the ability to fly from the magic glittering dust. Most of the kids left the theatre, not flying, but high on the excitement they just experienced.
The large cast is solid from top to bottom, and they are exceptional singers, dancers and comics. The songs are fun, and the full rich orchestra directed by Terry Tichenor is perfection as well. Director/Choreographer Earl Weaver has a winner with Peter Pan. It is only a 90-minute drive to Daytona (unless your fairy dust works and you can fly) and it is well worth the trip see this spectacular production. Young or old, Peter Pan is for you and your family. Buy tickets online at Seasidmusictheatdre.org or call 386-752-6200.
SEASIDE’S winter season opens on October 25th with A Streetcar Named Desire followed by White Christmas on November 15 and ending the season with Crowns on January l7th.
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