The Adventures of Peter Pan @ Synetic Theatre

Another amazing performance (alas, final performance) in the world of DC Theater. The Adventures of Peter Pan at Synetic Theatre in Arlington, VA was simply magical. And I doubt any of the nearly packed audience (30% of which were in the discriminating 7 to 13 year-old-range) would disagree with me. The spinning sets and flamboyant costumes framed the story-telling and empowered the actors to bring to life again this well-known tale of the boy who refused to grow up. As with all Synetic productions the integration between the afore mentioned aspects along with the choreography, sound, and staging creates a seamless package that you just marvel at from start to finish. However, this production had something that many others by this company does not--dialogue. Very funny dialogue with an unmistakable pairing of the good captain Hook as narcissist in the mode of our current incumbent President. It escaped no one's notice and effected great torrents of laughter. Still the standout performances were those of Tinkerbell played by Ana Tsikurishvili, and Peter's Shadow played by Zana Gankhuyag. Ana's comic timing and extraordinary miming techniques often propelled the laughter in many a scene. Zana's command of his body in service to the choreography was impressive in a cast full of impressive, strong dancers. A hallmark of Synetic productions in my mind is that the members of the cast are in tremendous sync with one another. They have chemistry and they project an enjoyment of what it is they are offering to their audience.

If anything pissed me off, it was getting a two-sided black and white xerox flyer in place of a program. I guess they ran out of real programs during the run.