‘Finding Neverland’ worth the wait

YOU’LL BE ‘HOOKED’: Matthew Morrison (left) & Kelsey Grammer & ensemble in ‘Finding Neverland.’ Photo: Carol Rosegg

FINDING NEVERLAND
Book by James Graham
Music & lyrics by Gary Barlow
Based on the Miramax motion picture written by David Magee
and the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee
Directed by Diane Paulus
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
205 West 46th Street
(877-250-2929), http://www.FindingNeverlandTheMusical.com

By David NouNou

Credit must be given to Harvey Weinstein, lead producer, for his persistence and tenacity in believing in Finding Neverland when, for the last year, a lot of people in the theater community as well as critics were wondering why he was so obsessed with turning this property into a musical for the Broadway stage, especially when it had such a bumpy start and all the difficulties that burgeoned along the way. He dismissed the show’s original leading man, Jeremy Jordan, and replaced him with Matthew Morrison of TV’s “Glee” fame. He scrapped the original material and had the show reconstructed from the bottom up. Even when a show has a smooth sailing, it doesn’t guarantee it success, but when a show had so many obstacles, why wouldn’t you just abandon it and cut your losses? The simplest answer would be Mr. Weinstein is the little boy that believed in magic and fairy tales, because his belief in the project never wavered.

Indeed, Finding Neverland is a fairy tale steeped in magic. The magic stems not from the special effects, but from the delightful score by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy; at times one would call it enchanting. The book by James Graham is a bit fussy and relies a lot on the obvious “wink, wink” jokes (that the audience knows the musical is about the conception of the beloved character we’ve come to know as Peter Pan). It shows the struggles of J. M. Barrie (Mr. Morrison) trying to conceive his next play and via chance meeting with the widowed Mrs. Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Laura Michelle Kelly) and her four sons (one whose name is Peter) in Kensington Park, London and how they came up with the idea of Peter Pan, pirates, boys never growing up, a crocodile with a clock in its stomach, and Tinkerbell. Now the trick is to sell this idea to his producer, Charles Frohman (Kelsey Grammer).

In addition to the lovely score, the obvious story, and some effective special effects, there are two performances that I found particularly interesting. Kelsey Grammer, better known as Frasier Crane from his Emmy-winning performances in “Frasier” and “Cheers,” is having the time of his life up on the stage. First as the curmudgeonly producer, Charles Frohman, who dislikes children (and ultimately is the model for Captain Hook), is an absolute delight. Imagine Frasier being older, more cantankerous and in a Captain Hook costume and mustache, and you will find the glee and merriment he has imbued in his character.

The second is harder to appreciate. Matthew Morrison, who has been absent from the New York stage for far too long, has the more difficult role of J. M. Barrie. It is a difficult and colorless role. He has to be the child inside the man that doesn’t want to grow up, and at times it does come off as creepy. Mr. Morrison does a wonderful Scottish brogue, has a lovely singing voice, and gives J. M. Barrie a hipster, Jake Gyllenhaal look (if you saw him earlier this winter in Constellations, you’d swear they were one and the same person or at least twins), a fact which I’m sure the “Gleeks” will love.

As for as other performances: Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, mother of the four boys, is unremarkably present; Carolee Carmello as Sylvia’s mother, Mrs. DuMaurier, is stalwart as ever; and Aiden Gemme, as Peter Llewelyn Davies, has just the right amount of sulkiness and charm that is needed for Peter.

Director Diane Paulus does an admirable job of bringing the show together. Although not as exciting as her previous effort in Pippin, she does get the job done. She could have edited two songs in Act II better. The first being “We’re All Made of Stars,” sung by the four Davies boys. Instead of four lads in London, it comes across more as Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and friends in the backyard. The second being the finale with Mrs. DuMaurier; it is endless. When the children around you are fidgeting, you know a musical number of this nature (and the audience it is playing to) is going on far too long.

In the end, the hero and savior of this musical is Harvey Weinstein, for if it wasn’t for his dogged persistence, the theater would have lost a lovely score, a hammy Kelsey Grammer, a yummy Matthew Morrison, and a fun, familiar family show.

BARRIE & CAPTAIN HOOK: Matthew Morrison & Kelsey Grammer. Photo: Carol Rosegg

BARRIE & SYLVIA LLEWELYN DAVIES: Matthew Morrison & Laura Michelle Kelly. Photo: Carol Rosegg

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published April 15, 2015
Reviewed at press performance on April 12, 2015