Brightest Young Things

review by: Jared Harrison

This ain't Mary Martin's Peter Pan!

Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers is No Rules Theatre Co's ambitious attempt to retell the classic story of prolonged youth and invented reality, which they do quite successfully, although with far fewer songs and sugary sweetness than Ms. Martin.

Now, if you're like me, your memories of this tale about the boy who refused to grow up conjure images of a flying kid in tights, a glittery fairy, and a crew of boys imagining posh dinner parties. Pretty fab, right? No Rules' rendition is equally fab but with a majorly emo slant. The show opens in the Darling Family's nursery, and immediately darkens when the audience realizes that the family is burying their youngest son, Michael. The ensuing grief sets a tone for the rest of the performance and is the impetus for Wendy and John Darling to take flight at the second star to the right and straight on 'till morning.

John Evans Reese is successful in portraying Pan's stubborn naivety. His physical sprightliness is captivating and enviable, save for a clunky sword fight. Lisa Hodsoll plays the grieving Mrs. Darling as well as Captain Hook. The character overlap is no surprise given Peter's loathing of the captain. (Get it...the boy who hated mothers??) And Megan Graves' Wendy was a personal favorite, capturing simultaneous senses of wise realism and desperate optimism. A+ for her mastery of yoga that totally paid off in her flying scenes!

The Lost Boys (who also play the Indians and pirates) are quite hysterical, and the three actors are amazingly in sync with each other. They're also all super (duper) cute <<swoon>>.

Other than the distracting creaking noise created by the stage itself, the set design was creative and personified the boys' sense of imagination as the Darling nursery transformed into Neverland--all at the hands of the characters, like ghosts, imagining their reality. Speaking of ghosts: I think Tim Burton was a ghost costume and makeup designer. And I want John Darling's nightshirt and top hat.

This show will make you evaluate your own demons and the lengths we take to imagine our elaborate escape from them.
Go see this show. Seriously. Grab a pie next door at Dangerously Delicious and enjoy the quaint space at H Street Playhouse before it turns into a bowling alley...or you grow up.

Previously in Play DC:

• 5/9: PlayDC: The Taming of the Shrew @ Folger Theatre
• 5/3: PlayDC: God of Carnage @ Signature Theatre
• 4/25: PlayDC: "Come Fly Away" @ Kennedy Center
• 4/23: PlayDC: "Strange Interlude" @ Shakespeare Theatre Company
• 4/17: PlayDC: The Washington Ballet's Alice (in Wonderland)!
• 4/10: PlayDC: Long Day's Journey Into Night @ Arena Stage
• 3/22: PHOTOS: Behind The Scenes With PETRUSHKA's Puppeteers
• 3/21: PlayDC: Brother Russia @ Signature Theater
• 3/20: PlayDC: 12 Angry Men @ Keegan Theatre
• 3/19: PLAYDC: Ah, Wilderness! @ Arena Stage