Those who saw the hilarious The Play That Goes Wrong will know the formula. Peter Pan Goes Wrong is the next iteration from Mischief Productions. The last version deservedly won a Tony Award for Best Set Design of a Play. This one riotously ups the ante. I cannot say the ship is smooth sailing or the flight over London goes well. But that’s where the fun is. And there is a lot of fun to be had.
The children are in a bunk bed. Things go wrong. Actors are on wires. Things go wrong. The deadly but cheaply costumed crocodile is not so scary. A “six shooter” is employed against the cast from Six across the street. The Peter Pan story will be told but that’s really not the point. Silly fun is the goal and it is achieved.
So many shows on Broadway in this and recent seasons are laser focused on gay (and trans and nonbinary) themes. Peter Pan Goes Wrong makes it even more obvious (and effective) than those. In order to move the plot along the audience will be cajoled into chanting “I believe in fairies”. There is theatrical joy from start to finish.
Neil Patrick Harris joined the cast this month in the role of Francis, essentially the narrator. He fits right in with bad entrances and assorted pratfalls. Everyone gets a moment to shine. Jonathan Sayer is the actor who doesn’t know his lines and wears headphones to be prompted. The gag is funny for sure. In the second act, he has a unforgettable monologue that is brilliantly rendered.
The set design (Simon Scullion) is, once again, superb. You might anticipate things going wrong. They do. Adam Meggido’s direction is precise choreography making all of the hijinks seem spontaneous. It is frankly a miracle that no one gets hurt during these (literally) whirlwind performances.
The cast is pitch perfect across the board. Chris Bean is amusing in both the father and Captain Hook roles. Nancy Zamit offers a buffoonish rendition of Tinkerbell. This show is smile inducing, geared for the young and the young-at-heart. The voluminous details make this play so enjoyable. Laughs are in abundance.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is a glorious mess. Isn’t is nice that Broadway has two gleefully humorous offerings right now. If you like plays, see this one. If you prefer musicals go see Shucked. Either choice is guaranteed to gladden your mood. Seeing both will lift your spirits far above the world which so disappoints us on a daily basis.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong is running at the Ethel Barrymore Theater on Broadway through July 9, 2023.