‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’ a relentless ride

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: (Left to right) Ellie Morris, Jonathan Sayer, Charlie Russell, Henry Shields, Henry Lewis & Matthew Cavendish. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

PETER PAN GOES WRONG
Based on J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan
Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields
Directed by Adam Meggido
Through July 23, 2023

Ethel Barrymore Theatre
243 West 47th Street
(212-239-6200), https://pangoeswrongbway.com/

By David NouNou

If you are into hyper-energetic physical comedy and relentlessness, then Peter Pan Goes Wrong is your ticket. Whether it is The Play That Goes Wrong or Peter Pan Goes Wrong, it is basically the same show, the same authors and the same leading men consisting of Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields of the London-based Mischief Theatre. However, only the titles are different.

What’s different about this show is it is loosely based on J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and has the distinction of having Neil Patrick Harris as the narrator and playing other bit parts to the delight of the audience. His every entrance and exit elicited applause and that is the better part of the show.

You have to be prepared to in some way be a part of the show. The actors, doubling as stagehands as the audience enters the theatre, mill through the masses, setting up wires and doing bits to prepare the audience for the theatrical pandemonium that ensues. The audience at my performance was more than eager to participate in the interactive shenanigans and then the play began.

The play, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, takes place in some regional/community British theatre, and as the title aptly suggests everything, everywhere all at once goes wrong. From Nana, the dog getting stuck in a trap door to Peter Pan flying upside down to cast members being electrocuted, doors slamming into faces, getting planked in the crotch, and there is a glorious revolving stage. Mayhem, pratfalls and chaos ensue in each scene at a nonstop pace. The audience is encouraged to hiss and boo at some of the characters, and there is no end to that, but suffice it to say the audience is enthralled with all this madness. This comedy genre is enormously popular in the United Kingdom, and obviously has many fans on this side of the Atlantic, too.

Believe it or not, the clever and interesting set design by Simon Scullion is the highlight of the show. After a while and by the second act, all the characters blend into each other and they become indistinguishable from one another, with the exception of Neil Patrick Harris, because he is Neil Patrick Harris—and we are grateful for that.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published April 21, 2023
Reviewed at April 20, 2023 press performance.

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: Henry Lewis, Neil Patrick Harris & Henry Shields. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: (Left to right) Harry Kershaw, Chris Leask, Henry Shields, Nancy Zamit, and Greg Tannahill & back (left to right) Charlie Russell & Henry Lewis.

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: Neil Patrick Harris. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: Matthew Cavendish (front) with (left to right) Harry Kershaw, Charlie Russell, Greg Tannahill, Henry Shields, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Lewis. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: (Left to right) Ellie Morris, Chris Leask & Bianca Horn. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: Nancy Zamit. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: Henry Lewis & Jonathan Sayer. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘PETER PAN GOES WRONG’: Nancy Zamit & Greg Tannahill. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.