STAGE REVIEWS : WHIMSICAL ‘PETER PAN’ SOARS AT SADDLEBACK

Saddleback College has staged a “Peter Pan” that soars, buoyed by whimsy, rich comedy and jaw-dropping effects.

Director John-David Keller and scenic designer Wally Huntoon have joined forces to create an inspired world of childhood dreams where fantasy overtakes reality in that Never Land between wakefulness and slumber. They provide plenty of magic moments along the way. A mirrored ball sends hundreds of twinkling stars scattered through the dark theater as Peter leads Wendy and the boys in flight against a huge harvest moon. A pirate ship sails (yes, sails) on stage. Even the first glimpse of the nursery draws applause; Huntoon has designed a pink and white dreamscape that looks like it was squeezed out of a cake decorating tube and has decked it with toy animals that later come alive in Never Land, again neatly blurring the line between dreams and reality.

James M. Barrie’s tale of the boy who refuses to grow up gets a comic slant from Keller that focuses on the light side of this dark-edged fairy tale. He keeps the pace fast and occasionally furious, which serves the comic moments well, the poignant ones less so. Here, the “bad guys”--pirate buffoons and dancing Indians--never pose any real threat. As dreams go, this one is strictly exhilarating fun.

All this whimsy is masterfully anchored by Hal Landon Jr. as Captain Hook and Jennifer Parsons as Peter Pan. Landon’s cleverly crafted fop provides a bounty of comic detail (with just a sprinkling of well-placed villainy) in a tour de force performance. Parsons matches it with an expressive, endearing portrayal of Peter; she gives a physically deft performance that manages to communicate shadings of sentiment against the broad comic backdrop. When these two are paired in the “Mysterious Lady” duet, the silly exchange is elevated to a cunning duel of comic wits.

Karen Smith is a warm and sincere Wendy, accompanied by the appealing bunch of Lost Boys led by Peter Marietta and Gregory Michael Seifert as John and Michael. Linda Kostalik’s choreography is imaginative and nicely succinct, showcasing a delightful tarantella and a strobe-light chase that cleverly ties up the loose ends of “Mysterious Lady.”

This “Peter Pan” does have its snags. The cast is uneven, and the vocal work has some weak spots, exacerbated by the sound system. Some of the script’s awkward moments--and this show has its share--remain unsolved, notably the anticlimactic reprise of “I’ve Got to Crow.” But none of this substantially detracts from the magical appeal of this enduring musical and the imaginative treatment it gets here.

“Peter Pan” will play through Aug. 17 in McKinney Theatre at Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. For information, call (714) 582-4656.