On Friday night (3 July), Peter Pan journeyed to Neverland with the Darling children to meet fluttering fairies, majestic mermaids, the Lost Boys tribe and some pesky pirates.
When the audience are introduced to the four Darling children – Wendy, John, Michael and Peter – as babes, they seem unloved. In a dark and foreboding opening scene, their nursemaids care for the children. Capable of horrible and vicious acts, the children take great delight when the fairies visit their nursery each night. But the fairies weren't able to help when Peter fell out of his carriage and was swept away with the rubbish on evening.
As the children grow older, the family becomes closer. Until one fateful night when Mr and Mrs Darling leave for the evening and the children run off with the fairies – literally. This tale of a mischievous boy who never grew up and takes the Darling children to his mystical homeland is full of captivating chaos, sweet serenades and swashbuckling sword fights.
© David Kelly Rian Thompson takes his role of Peter in stride. His captivating wild child personality shines through his movement and facial expression. With mountains of trust in the controllers of the pulley system, Rian moves like a fluid Tarzan, soaring above the stage like it's second nature and then lightly touching down each time. Smoothly transitioning from elegant and mystical man to heroic tribe leader, his choreography cleverly flows between the two roles.
© David KellyLaura Hildago as Wendy embodied her motherly role to the Lost Boys, but her childlike mannerisms when scenes turned to play were lost in translation. With plentiful and perfect pointe work, Laura's maturity was apparent over the other children. And her objections to Peter and Hook were, at times, over-exaggerated. When performing together, Wendy and Peter depicted a couple more than friends (or sister and long-lost brother).
Appearing as a solemn mime, Charles Riddiford used every fibre of his being to depict the taunted and underappreciated son of Captain Hook. Insulted and bullied by the pirates, and even by his own father, James takes it upon himself to make a stand and help Peter defeat the evil creature who loathes all children. While Hao Bin as Hook personified evil. With a disfigured left hand from a cruel upbringing, his demise is met with comedy.
Tinkerbell and her pixie dust were scarcely seen, which left the audience wanting more from the group of fluttering fairies. But when the glittering girls did swirl over the stage, they were spellbinding. Leading the other magical creatures, their dainty and endearing choreography was sprinkled with innocence, cheekiness and bliss.
A stand-out character of this performance was in a tiny package. Though she wasn't given much pointe work, Teri Crilly as little Michael Darling had the audience laughing out loud at her arm-flailing, excitement and wonder. All too keen to get in the air, this adventurer's boyish charm absorbed the stage and demanded attention – characteristics he exuded until curtain. And the audience weren't the only lovers of her performance, Artistic Director Le Cunxin promoted Teri to Junior Soloist shortly after.
With visionary costumes, an enchanting set, magical characters and graceful solos, this childhood story is refreshingly charming, humorous and engaging. Taking the classic to a new level, the Queensland Ballet dug deeper than the past-bedtime story we all know and love. With heart-touching choreography performed by Mr and Mrs Darling (Katherine Rooke and Shane Wuerthner) and fluid scenes from the mermaids (Clare Morehen, Lisa Edwards and Morelli), this was more than a high-flying journey to Neverland.
Peter Pan may never grow up, but his story has.
