I didn’t see the movie version of Finding Neverland but Diane did. Johnny Depp played J.M. Barrie and Katie Winslet played his love interest. This play version of Finding Neverland is based on the Broadway version with some minor modifications: a couple new songs and some extra special effects. The touring company of Finding Neverland has been in Buffalo for the past month “tweaking” this version before they take the production on the road. The story of how Barrie wrote Peter Pan is engaging and entertaining. The love story…not so much. GRADE: B-
ACT I:
Neverland
Welcome to London
My Imagination
Believe
The Dinner Party
We Own the Night
All That Matters
We Own the Night (Reprise)
Sylvia’s Lullaby
Neverland
Circus of Your Mind
Live by the Hook
Stronger
ACT II:
The World Is Upside Down
What You Mean to Me
Play
We’re All Made of Stars
When Your Feet Don’t Touch the Ground
Something About This Night
Neverland (Reprise)
Finale
We have seen some mediocre road versions of shows over the years. Generally they cut down on sets and cast and such to save money. You can usually tell here by what venue is showing it. Sorry it wasn’t better.
Patti, I agree with you on touring company productions. But I found FINDING NEVERLAND almost overstaffed. There are a lot of people on-stage at any given time. Including kids and a real dog!
The reason you were “meh” about the love story is that there was no love story to begin with. Barrie used his relationship to the boys’ mother because he was interested in her son’s (there are hints, but nothing proved, that Barrie had, um, inclinations). I think a darker–but far more interesting–story could be developed from what happened to the “lost boys” after their mother died: early deaths, drownings, suicide. A sad tale indeed.
Deb, you’re right about the sad backstory. And Barrie’s fascination with children gets sanitized in this production.
and rightly so, who wants to see that dark, sad, unpleasant stuff? I wish I hadn’t even read Deb’s comment. Haven’t we had about enough of everything being sad, dark, dysfunctional, perverted, and negative? I sure have!
Rick, and the music in FINDING NEVERLAND isn’t very memorable, either.
We skipped the show, and the movie for that matter. I prefer Dave Barry’s PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, which was turned into a fun show.
Jeff, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER was a wonderful production at the Shaw Festival in the 2015 season.
We’re lucky in SD with the La Jolla Playhouse and the Old Globe. We get tryouts before Broadway, and to my dying day I’ll regret not seeing Jersey Boys.
I went OPENING NIGHT (a first!!) to see Peter and the Starcatcher at the Playhouse. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson were there, and we got our Playbills signed. (neither venue has a stage door to get autographs) We loved it, and the cast – especially Christian Borle. One local actor, Ron Charlton, didn’t make it to Broadway.
One note: anytime I see Dave Barry, I mention I’m a friend of Jeff Meyerson and it’s like the sun shines on me to Dave, as I’m clearly special
Maggie, Dave Barry and the Meyersons are great friends!
Doesn’t sound appealing to me but I am not a big fan of musicals. Got dragged to Jersey Boys and would rather have a root canal without painkillers than have to sit thru that again. Did enjoy the Book of Mormon tho.
Steve, I loved THE BOOK OF MORMON! My favorite song is “Baptize Me.”