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| L - R - Jackson Evans, Amy Lawhorn, Benjamin Campbell, Trisha LaFache, David Hemphill |
By Joe Straw
Waiting outside The Blank Theatre before the performance, in the cool breezy
Hollywood air, somewhere between dusk and twilight, I saw a boy (a man) running
west along the theatres on Santa Monica Boulevard and across Wilcox Avenue.
He leapt upon the curb next to
the theatre. It was a small leap, yet so light, as though he was picked up by
the wind. An aeolian creature captured like a still photograph, a fragmental moment in
time. His hair was brown and curly, his
jaw straight, his leg extended toward the curb and he was wearing brown flying
boots. And as suddenly as he was there,
he was gone, disappeared by a distraction.
And I said to myself that was Peter Pan! - Narrator
Mrs. Darling (Trisha LaFache) was not a happy woman. She was melancholy, dolorous, lachrymose, heavyhearted,
and without a doubt, disconcerted. Her
reasons were understandable, she had just lost her infant son Michael and, though
plagued by distractions, she was gathering the initiative and a moment to find a
time and place for his burial. On her knees, she opened her chest, a heavenly
light exploded and enveloped her, and she reached in and carefully took out her
deceased child, Michael, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The children were concerned, as they should be. But Wendy (Liza Burns), the older child, took
more of the moment to heart. John (Benjamin Campbell) was nervous about his
mother and the effect it had on her. But really, who can guess what’s going on
in the mind of children at a time like this?
Mrs. Darling took her lifeless child and carefully placed
him under a crawl space and into the ground. Our story is set in an earlier
time, when one could do things like that without repercussions from the law.
Mrs. Darling, sans Mr. Darling, turns to her surviving
children, gives them their medicine, twists on the gas nightlights (the
protective eyes of parents when they are not there) but does not tell them a
story this night. She solemnly instructs them to say their prayers, which they do,
but they keep one eye open as they watch their mother walk up to the ledge of
the window, ready to jump, faint, or fall.
The Blank Theatre, Daniel Henning Founding Artistic Director
and Noah Wyle Artistic Producer presents Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers written by Michael
Lluberes, based on “Peter & Wendy” by J.M. Barrie and directed by Michael
Matthews. “Peter Pan…” awakens all we know about this fantasy and brings our
childhood imaginations back to life with a wonderful retelling of this classic
tale. Going will be one more day to lift
your spirits and one more chance to bring Tinker Bell back to life. Let your
swirling imagination soar and watch the fantasy come back into your being. Run to see this production before the last
light dims.
Wendy had heard stories of Peter Pan (Daniel Shawn Miller) although
she had not met him. And it was for this
reason she slept lightly, waiting. But, thoughts of death and mental anguish
tire the weary soul and Wendy falls asleep.
Natheless, life has a way of lifting your spirits and Peter
senses this when he swoops into Wendy's bedroom late that night. And, whether is
was intentional or not, the racket Peter was making, finding his shadow, was enough to wake the dead.
But, oddly enough, it was on this night from her bed; Wendy awoke only hearing the lonely sobs of a young boy.
“Boy, why are you crying?” – Wendy
It was a terrible time for Peter to lose his shadow and that
nasty Tinker Bell (Amy Lawhorn) was not helping one bit. But Wendy was there to
sew it back on much to Peter Pan’s delight and Tinker Bell’s aggravation.
A delightfully shadowed Peter, eager for another adventure, sees the advantage of having
a mother.
“One girl is better than twenty boys.” – Peter Pan
Wendy is immediately caught off guard and in a moment
breathless. Peter asks Wendy to leave
her mother and come to Neverland enticing her with mermaids. And to get John enthusiastic he tells him
there are pirates there. (Pirates!) And with the help of exuberant imagination,
and Tinker Bell’s fairy dust, they fly off to Neverland.
“Second to the right and straight on till morning.” – Peter
But Neverland is filled with dirty little boys Tootles
(Jackson Evans), Slightly (David Hemphill) and Nibbs (Amy Lawhorn) who are in
constant battles with Captain Hook (also, Trisha LaFache). Without Peter Pan they are no match for the deadly
Captain Hook. It is a miserable life for which the Lost Boys have to be on
constant guard. And so they flee.
And although Captain Hook scours the island for the boys he
must also be on guard for the ticking clock and the alligator that drives him stark,
raving, mad. It was not long ago he was equally fond of his right hand, now
missing, thanks to Peter and the crocodile. But when he hears the ticking, he
abandons his objective for the souls of dirty little boys.
With Captain Hook out of the way, the boys come out of
hiding. Tinker Bell arrives and tells
the Lost Boys that Wendy is coming. She says
that Peter Pan commands them to kill Wendy when she arrives. And so Tootles shoots her with a bow and
arrow. The arrow cuts through the air reaching the heart of its intended victim, Wendy is thrown from her lofty perch, and falls lifelessly to the soft earth
of Neverland.
This show features an exciting cast of fresh new faces and is
wonderfully directed by Michael Matthews.
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| Front Row L - R Trisha LaFache, Liza Burns, AmyLawhorn Back Row L - R David Hemphill, Daniel Shawn Miller, Jackson Evans, Benjamin Evans |
Liza Burns plays
Wendy Darling and is terrific in his role. She is young enough to play Wendy
and gives the character multiple layers. One minute she is young child saying
prayers, the next a young sexual being fantasizing, and next a mother to the
Lost Boys. She handles the role marvelously.
And I particularly liked the sewing scene and her ability to completely pull
that off. She is an extraordinary
actress with breathtaking moments and I hope to see more of her in the future.
Daniel Shawn Miller
plays Peter Pan and he was the gentleman flying outside on Santa Monica
Boulevard. This is a physically
demanding role for Miller and he handles the role aptly. Not to take away from
anyone else but it is refreshing to have a man play the role of Peter Pan. Miller
succeeds wonderfully in capturing the prepubescent innocence of a young male who
is not able to grasp the advances of his counterpart. Also, knowing that if he
does, he cannot remain a boy forever. Miller is marvelous.
Trisha LaFache is a
stunning specimen. She is Mrs. Darling and Captain Hook and
had many unexpected incredible moments. Her Hook represents the darker side of human
thoughts. And is a role which one can’t
be too evil throughout. LaFache had some
really nice turn of phrases in her delivery that I found incredibly exciting
and funny. The trick to this portrayal is latching on to a moment that finds
the similarities between Mrs. Darling and Captain Hook and finding that core
that rings a specific truth to both characters when all is said and done. Still, all in all, wonderfully done.
Benjamin Campbell
plays John Darling has a remarkable face and appears to have stepped out of a
Disney film. Campbell is excellent and, while rather large for a young male,
brings his own truth to the role. Also, he does yeoman’s work performing sound
effects and playing drums high up in the rafters.
Jackson Evans
plays the not so smart Tootles and the pirate Smee. Evans handles his roles remarkable,
and has an astonishing craft, and an incredible face to go with that craft. Funny and evil all in one breath, Evans makes
going to the theatre a remarkable experience.
David Hemphill
plays Slightly and Starkey and has a commanding stage presence. There is a lot
of truth to his work and a lot more roles to be played.
Amy Lawhorn plays
Nibbs, Bill Jukes, Tiger Lily, and Tinker Bell (although she is not given
credit in the program). She is an
incredible actress with a very wide range and a remarkable presence on stage. She
is a brilliant actress who makes her delivery and objective simple and clear.
Michael Matthews,
the director, does an incredible job filling every inch of space at The Blank
Theatre with magnificent creative energy. There are no wires or rigging in this
small, black box, theatre yet you believe that children can fly. Tinker Bell is wonderfully captured and it is
hard to believe there were no collisions on this particular night. There is an incredible scene after Tinker Bell
drinks the poison – out of the darkness comes the voice of reason, life and
truth. Simply, marvelous. But, there’s a lot more to Matthews’s direction. The
intangibles that guide actors into giving their all with relationships,
characters, and objectives, the simple things that give a show dramatic heartfelt
truth. And, with all the awards in theatre recently, what is the next step?
The writer, Michael
Lluberes, gives us a slightly different version of Peter Pan, which follows
what I remember of the story. I think this version is wonderfully suited for
ages 9 to 90 and encourage everyone to run to see this production.
Ruth Connell, Noah Khyle, Christina Jun, Henry Alberto,
Jonas Dickson, Elle Johnson, and Royce
Johnson are covers for this production and did not perform on this night
but will be given an opportunity later on in the run.
The wonderful producers of this show are Sarah A. Bauer, Matthew Graber, Daniel
Henning, Stephen Moffatt, and Noah Wyle.
The Associate Producers are Dawn Davis, Emily Mae Heller,
Evan Martinez, and Noelle Toland.
The Lighting Design was by Tim Swiss & Zack Lipinski.
Rebecca Kessin provided the Sound Design.
The magical Set Design was by Mary Hamrick.
The Costume Design, by Kellsy
MacKilligan was wonderfully thought out emphasizing embonpoint for the
women, and extreme characterization for the Lost Boys.
The Property Design was by Michael O’Hara. Stage
Manager/Assistant director is Rebecca
Eisenberg. Assistant Stage Manager
is Jillian Mayo and the Dialect Coach
is Coco Kleppinger.
Sondra Mayer’s
work was exceptional as the Fight Choreographer. The fencing was extraordinary.
Casting Directors, Erica
Silverman & Cara Chute, must be commended for their outstanding work.
And Ken Werther
Publicity aptly provides the Public Relation.
Very nice Production photos by Mary Ann Williams.
Run! Run! Run and take a friend that needs a jolt to their imaginative spirit.
The Blank's 2nd Stage Theatre
6500 Santa Monica Boulevard
(at Wilcox)
Hollywood 90038
APRIL 27 - EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2013!!!
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AT 8PM
SUNDAY AT 2PM
Twitter @TheBlankTheatre
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