Peter Pan

Peter Pan
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
February 24 - March 4, 2012

I haven't been to many ballets, so I was intrigued by how a familiar story like Peter Pan could translate into a story without words. The advertising promised we would see the characters flying and I was looking forward to that.

When we arrived at the theater, ushers handed out lights to the children. I was told there was one per family. I was with a friend and her two children and was given grief in asking for a light for her "family." We later found an usher willing to give one per child, which is really how it should have been handled to begin with. Whoever came up with the "one per family rule" clearly doesn't have more than one child.

Before the show began, the director came on stage and discussed the lights. He called it a "Fairy Fixer" and the kids would be able to use them in Act Two, they would know when. But, he advised, that if they were used at the wrong time, they could become "Fairy Killers." I was impressed that the children actually respected those instructions. 

Being familiar with the storyline helped, but the costumes and sets were very effective in setting the scenes. For the most part, the costumes looked more like they belonged in a play than a ballet. The Indian maidens were an exception. They looked more like cheerleaders for a team with a Native American mascot.

The flying by Peter and the children was fun to watch. Never have these characters flown more gracefully. It was nice to see Tinkerbell played by a dancer and not just a lighting effect. 

The story was well told. The best moment came when Tinkerbell ingests poison meant for Peter and dies. The lights in her wings flickered and went out. What happened next was extraordinary. Lights began to flicker on throughout the theater. They seemed a bit tentative at first, but when the children realized that this was the time to use them, the seats were filled with light. We saw Tinkerbell's wings flicker again before she bounded up. The moment was electrifying.

Overall I was very impressed with this production. It showed just how great dance can be for telling a story.