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Each year, Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre presents a full-scale family production.  In their 2015 schedule, that play is Peter Pan and it's onstage now! Combining both dinner and a show, this production makes for a special evening out with the entire family!

The Story
The story of Peter Pan was written in 1904 by Sir James M. Barrie. Originally written as a play and later published as a book, the tale has delighted audiences now for over 110 years!

It's the classic tale of the boy who never grows up and his adventures in Neverland and with the Darling children. One night, Peter visits the Darling nursery, where he befriends the three children and teaching them to fly, whisks them off to a magical world called Neverland. There, the children face crocodiles, goofy pirates, a tribe of Indians, a wild group of "Lost Boys" and of course, Captain Hook.

The Cast
The cast for Peter Pan includes some Beef & Board favorites, some new faces and a group of very talented children. Perhaps most notable is Peter Pan, played by newcomer Phebe Taylor. Taylor is a spirited Peter with talented vocals and dancing. Taylor does a great job keeping up with the choreography required while flying - a skill that has to take some practice!

Last seen as Fern in Charlotte's Web, Kennedy Martin holds the role of Wendy. Martin does a great job of balancing between Wendy's youth and the demand put on her as the "mother' to all the boys. She is both youthful and mature in her portrayal.

Tiger Lily is played by one of Beef & Boards' staple performers, Sally Scharbrough. Scharbrough is a lovely and lively Tiger Lily. While it's hard to imagine her as being truly threatening, she makes a great ally to Peter Pan when the tribe joins the "Lost Boys" against the pirates and Captain Hook.

And, who could forget Captain Hook? Once again, Jeff Stockberger steals scenes with his over-the-top Captain Hook. His Hook is both menacing and goofy. He gets a lot of laughs from the children in the audience with his silly physical stage comedy and humorous quips.

The entire cast of Lost Boys are also worth a mention. The boys, ranging in age are full of spunk and skill. Their singing and dancing was spot on and entertaining.

The Set
The story takes place in three locations - the Darling nursery, Neverland and the pirate ship in Neverland. The nursery setting is what one would expect in a typical English household of the time. It includes a warm fireplace, bed, toys and even a dog house for the family dog. A sharp contrast to the luxury of the nursery is the wild jungles of Neverland. The scenery there is much simpler with trees and vegetation. On the pirate ship, the scenery takes on a bit more detail with a boat deck that comes out onto the stage and provides the pirates a place to stow the kidnapped lost boys.

The Costumes
The costumes for Peter Pan are the traditional fare for this story. The Darling children, having been swept up from their beds, are in nightclothes while the lost boys wear ragged, messy clothing. The most notable costume is that of Captain Hook. He wears a large feathered hat, red coat with purple vests and of course the shiny hook! His costume, in contrast to the tattered clothing of the other pirates denotes his strong personality and flair for the dramatic.

The Review
Peter Pan is a great treat for the entire family. My husband and I attended this performance with our eight year old son and one of his classmates. They both loved it. When asked what they enjoyed most, they both mentioned humorous scenes. For me, I enjoyed the flying and the Captain Hook character. While the play is intended for families, I wouldn't recommend it for young children. It includes lots of musical numbers which I've found does not hold the attention of young ones and unlike Beef & Board's children's theatrical performances, this is a full-length show. The show itself last about two hours, with an intermission. The boys we brought were thrilled with the fun of eating from the buffet, having dessert during intermission and getting to see a show. For them, I think the fun was in the entire experience.

I enjoyed this performance a lot. I did find it a bit slow in the beginning and also grew a little bored with some of the musical numbers. I enjoy musicals a lot but there were points in the show when I was waiting for the songs to end. It was fun for me to see the kids enjoy the show so much. This is a fun show for families and I highly recommend it.

Peter Pan runs through July 3, 2015 with 58 performances at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Tickets range in price from $40-$65. Because Peter Pan is considered a family show, there is a $10 discount per ticket for all shows for children ages 3-15.

Other Theatrical Reviews:

Crazy for You

Fiddler on the Roof

Charlotte's Web

The Odd Couple