*** Think of the happiest little thoughts! Think of Christmas! Think of Snow! Think of Sleigh bells! Here we go! You can fly! Fly into the world of Sir J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan: The Musical”, now on the stage at The James M. Nederlander Theatre as part of the Broadway In Chicago season. What a feeling to enter a theater on a week night and see hundreds of children ( of all ages) with either a parent or an entire family, all watching a wonderful fairy tale come to life, live!

It has been awhile since “Peter Pan” has landed in town and it was a little different from previous versions or the versions we have seen on national television. Of course, the Disney cartoon version is one that will always stick with most of us, and Mary Martin’s version was amazing. I will say that technology has made the flying much better and the projections and set are unique, again, using technology that makes it special. This version has a little different twist as they have Peter played by Nolan Almeida ( yes, a male plays the part) who has a great smile and stage presence. Wendy is well played by Hawa Kamara and her brothers ( in tonight’s production) were played by Camden Kwok /John and Reed Epley/Michael. The family players were terrific and I thought that the extra efforts on Epley’s part in the final number was outstanding. I think you will see this name in big things in years to come! Mom and dad are played by  Cody Garcia who shows his strength when he becomes his alter-ego, Captain Hook and mom, Shefali Deshpande makes for a great pirate herself.

The pirate crew is also made up of some of the “Lost Boys” and a few of Tiger Lily’s tribe. By the way, Tiger Lily ( Raye Zaragoza is quite the singer and dancer. Smee (deftly handled by Kurt Perry) is the comic character on the pirate side. One cannot forget the crocodile ( Christine Helene Braa, who also plays Jane in the final scene with Peter, in the future). For those who do not know the story, Captain Hook was bitten by the croc, who evidently hungers for seconds, but has since swallowed a clock and so the tick tock warns Hook of his existence, allowing avoidance. But how long can that last?

This is a fun show with some cute music by Morris Charlap and lyrics by Carolyn Leigh with some additional lyrics by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Amanda Green. “I’m Flying”,  “I Gotta Crow”, and “Never Grow Up” are two that almost everyone in the audience knew word for word. Of course, the fairy, Tinker Bell is important and there is a scene where Tink saved Peter from drinking a poison potion, and Peter truns to the audience to save her. I recall a song “If You Believe In Fairies, then Clap Your Hands”, but I think that may be a different version, so we just clapped hands. Evidently, we all knew how to save her!

The play runs about 2 hours and 25 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.

” Peter Pan: the Musical” will continue through April 7, with performances as follows: