I love theater—so much so that I even attend middle school productions—so our disappointment last night at the Pantages production of Peter Pan was acute. It was not a disaster, but left some to be desired.

In our attempt at a Green/China-free Christmas we purchased tickets for the entire family, but most especially the grandchildren, to attend Peter Pan at the Pantages and looked forward to the evening eagerly. Our grandson went dressed as Peter Pan and our granddaughter as Tinkerbelle and for their part, I believe they enjoyed themselves, although were exhausted by the end.

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Productions aimed at children ought to begin earlier than adult fare and end earlier, particularly on a school night. Granted, we knew the start time was 7:30 PM at the time we purchased the tickets, but we did not realize that the end time would be past 10. In the future, the Pantages might want to consider a 7 PM curtain rise and presenting productions that can be completed in two hours for the wee folks.

The production was true to the original Barry play, up to a point. Most of the acting and singing was good, but the part where Tinkerbelle, because of her love for Peter, drinks the poison Captain Hook has slipped into Peter’s medicine was abbreviated and lacked the emotion and drama of other productions. The scenes containing “Indians” might be less offensive if they were played by children. Granted, Barry had not visited the US when he wrote the story and his knowledge of Native American culture was the product of American 19th Century media, stereotypes that lasted well into the 20th Century and persist today, but I can’t help but wonder how the Puyallups and other Native Americans in the audience felt. I was uncomfortable. That said, the woman who played Tiger Lily is a nice dancer. Mr. Darling/Captain Hook was wonderful.

Last, but foremost, was the casting of Peter. First of all, why can’t a talented young man play the part? My granddaughter asked, “Where’s Peter the boy?” I know that historically the part has been played by a woman and I saw the Mary Martin production in the 1950s myself, but this woman was no Mary Martin. Think a voice like Fran Drescher in a fireplug body. She looked nothing like a young man and sounded nothing like one of English origins. No offense to you New Yorkers who live here, but hearing the nasally Brooklyn resonance set our teeth on edge and did nothing to create the illusion of the setting and the woman’s singing would not have been all that in any case. In the end, Captain Hook’s performance so surpassed that of Peter, I could not help but root for him.

Theatrical productions cannot all be winners and this production of Peter Pan was not a complete disaster. Moreover we have attended many find productions at the various theaters that make up Tacoma’s thriving Center for the Performing Arts, but sometimes the best evenings have been spent at amatuer productions. Saturday we will be attending Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None at Peninsula High School in Purdy. The theater is lovely and Jonathan Bill always produces a wonderful production with his young students. Next week it’s on to Harbor Ridge Middle School in Gig Harbor to see Willie Wonka. Check out your local school’s dramatic offerings. I’ll bet you’ll be pleased and so will your pocketbook.