Northwest Children’s Theater
December 2, 2005; closes December 31, 2005
I saw hard-working folks having good time staging another elaborate PTA-play (not a discreditable experience). What I didn’t see was story (and implications) take on life of its own. Never-grow-up-boy became never-going-to-end-performance as slack pacing unnecessarily pushed performance half-hour over projected runtime. Mechanical flying distractingly noisy. Laudable: Demian Boergadine’s choreography.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Focusing on the Portland, Oregon theatre scene in precisely 50-word increments. followspot@hotmail.com
15 comments:
i agree that peter pan did over exaggerate some of his lines, but maybe he was really into it? the flying is hard to work out, because the theater seems so small that you could hear any creek...now if they where to do it at say the Kellar. that'd be a diffrent story.
The Keller is a barn! (in response to above) That would make it worse...the Newmark or Winningstad perhaps would improve it. Great to hear that NWCT is going to buy the building--hopefully that means they will be able to work on those squeaky little details.
I agree that it was long, and didn't flow quite as it should have--maybe in a few weeks it will feel more polished? Lovely, whimsical set, fine costumes, great choreography, but a tacky sound design that made me cringe. The acting was nothing extraordinary, but I didn't see any major problems. That was way more than 50 words. sorry.
Agreed that there are definitely some kinks, but the potential is there. Hopefully it will get better as the run goes on.
And I have to say I'm always impressed with all the different kinds of shows NWCT can pull off in what would seem to be a fairly difficult space to work in. Especially with this show. I don't know how they fit all those sets backstage.
What do you mean by PTA?
PTA = parent/teacher association ... as in, earnest, but homespun; a school production; produced more for the experience than the expression
What did you all think of Wendy?
This show seems to have generated more responses more quickly from more poeple who actually saw the show than most shows reviewed on this site. I haven't seen the show, just thought that was interesting.
yes, curious.
is this choreographer new to town, or has he done any other work in Portland?
I'm pretty sure this is his first show in Portland.
unlike most people, I didn't know the story going in, and this script wasn't always easy to follow .... did anyone else feel that way? ...
You didn't know the story of Peter Pan? Were your raised somewhere in complete isolation of the Disney culture? If so, tell me where and how I can get there!
Disney is pure evil for theatre.
The Peter Pan this particular theater is showing isn't the Disney Peter Pan. I don't think anyone put on the Disneys version of the story. The basis of (what I can remember) is, peter pan comes in takes Wendy and her brothers to Neverland theres some pirate fights and some dances and Wendy starts growing up and they go back home and Peter starts to visit Wendy but she's grown up and has a daughter and it just goes on and on.
Regarding the Choreographer. Demian Boergadine is a Los Angeles trained dancer who last performed as a major ensemble dancer in the Kodak Theater (Home of the Oscars) production of Ten Commandments starring Val Kilmer. It had a nice healthy run, didn't score well with critics but was a fav with big audiences through the several months it played. He moved to Portland to find some spiritual change for himself. Much of his family live in Portland so while there in Portland, he naturally looked around for dance connected opportunities. He is also a brilliant actor and will one day soon return to L.A. to resume his career.
Post a Comment