The Lost Boys are back in town: Peter Pan comes to Brussels

That boy is back – the one with the wild red hair, floating at the window, looking for his shadow – but you’ve probably never seen Peter Pan this way before.

From 20 December to 6 January, the production company Music Hall will present Peter Pan, the Never-ending Story in Brussels’ Forest National. Not your typical Peter-Pan-Mary-Martin crooning on a window seat, this new adaption turns the classic play into a 360-degree spectacle, with some 50 actors, singers, acrobats and stunt people flying, flipping, twirling and sword-fighting their way across the stage.

The story stays true to most adaptations (though this does tend to vary from JM Barrie’s original play), with all the staples present: Peter, Wendy, Nana the dog, pirates, Indians, Lost Boys and all the rest. The actors sing, but do not talk on stage, leaving the storytelling up to a slightly cloying voice-over tête-à-tête between Tinker Bell and Captain Hook. The songs, which are well-known hits like Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose” and “Someday I’ll Fly Away” from Moulin Rouge, are also used to move the plot forward.

A few great stunts make this spectacle truly spectacular, such as Peter Pan free-flying 15 metres in the air thanks to a massive wind fan, during which I actually held my breath. Also, the final fight between the Lost Boys and the pirates is an epic ordeal, with huge fireballs flying across the stage, hot enough to heat up a chilly arena. At one point, Hook and Pan actually fight upside down on the ceiling, with no visible ropes or harnesses – a sight that alone made the whole show worth attending.

Fairytale fashion

Also notable are the costumes, which were the final project of Belgian fashion designer Kaat Tilley, who died unexpectedly this year and to whom the show is dedicated. Tilley’s style is at home in the fairytale world and extravagantly intricate, fanciful costumes do well in inviting the audience in for a night of fantasy.

The adaptation isn’t flawless, however. It’s much more spectacle than play, so often storytelling plays second fiddle to an impressive display. Occasionally the songs seem tired or forced, and they lay the love story between Peter Pan and Wendy on a little thick, which, heretical to Barrie’s story, makes it more about romance than about coming of age.

The narration was occasionally drowned out by the swelling of dramatic music, which at times made it difficult to follow for people unfamiliar with the details of the story. For example, there was obvious confusion among audience members when Tiger Lily suddenly appeared and the explanation was inaudible.

All in all, however, it’s a fun family show for those wanting to suspend their disbelief during the holiday season. Music Hall says it’s for young and old, but I say if you’re old, you’ll enjoy it more if you take along the young. The music is all in English, but the narration will be done in French and Dutch (so check that you buy tickets to the right show). There is also one performance on 20 December that will take place fully in English. Tickets are already flying out the door, so you're advised to book now.  

www.musichall.be

This article first appeared in Flanders Today