WITH ROTIMI AGBABIAKA KILLING IT AS
PIRATE CAPTAIN HOOK, IT’S NO WONDER WHY
THIS PETER PAN IS SUCH A TREASURE
This holiday season, The Presidio Theater presents the fourth incarnation of Panto in the Presidio with the world premiere of Peter Pan, written by Stephanie Brown and Richard Ciccarone, inspired by Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie. It’s the classic tale of the boy who never grows up, and his adventures in Neverland with Wendy, John, and Michael Darling as they encounter the Lost Boys, Tinkerbell, and the devious Captain Hook. It may be a trope to say this is a delight for everyone in the family, but pantos are written on two concurrent levels: one for kids and one for adults, so there’s a shared experience here. Most of the story is told through dance and fun and silly songs, the recognizable melodies of which are taken from recent pop music, reworked as parodies with whimsical lyrics — and they sound great thanks to Musical Director Bill Peck.
Corey Bryant as Peter Pan and Rotimi Agbabiaka as Hook
A panto, short for pantomime, comes from a British tradition of holiday shows, an all-ages comedy-musical-variety show, usually (but not always) performed around the Christmas holidays. Humor is broad for the kids, bawdy for the adults. Their fantastical, fairy-tale storylines are typically drawn from a well of about half a dozen usual suspects, most globally familiar. Here, as in children’s theater or over-the-top musicals, the audience is encouraged to participate by calling out to the heroes of a story or boo the villains, and there’s slapstick aplenty.
Andre Amarotico as Pecker and Curt Branom as Dolores
This modern day spin is narrated by Dolores (Curt Branom) a Mother Goose-like character with her sidekick: Pecker, a big colorful rooster to kids, but aptly named for grown-ups. An adult Wendy Darling (Abigail Esfira Campbell) is a successful business woman who has returned home to the family business, a struggling magic shop being run by her brothers Michael (Sleiman Alahmadia) and John (Scott Reardon).
Scott Reardon as John Darling and Sleiman Alahmadieh as Michael Darling
The brothers’ sense of fun and whimsy is directly the opposite of the serious minded Wendy. They are visited by the magical and perpetually youthful Peter Pan (Corey Bryant) and his sidekick, the ethereal Tinkerbell (Chanel Tilghman). Peter persuades them to take a trip to Neverland, a modern day San Francisco that is a beautiful place where all the birds and animals can talk. Everyone is forewarned about the evil Captain Hook (Rotimi Agbabiaka, who steals the show) and his crew led by Smee (Andy Collins).
Chanel Tilghman as Tinkerbell and Corey Bryant as Peter Pan
Director Liam Vincent clearly told his actors to have the time of their lives. The evil yet campy veteran actor Agbabiaka steals the show as Hook, with his every gesture or side glance causing the children to grimace and the adults to laugh out loud. And, boy do the kids ever shriek and yell a warning to Peter Pan when danger is afoot (but no one warned us that you might be hit in the head by candy that spontaneously is thrown out into the audience!).
Andres Amarotico as Pecker and Andy Collins as Smee
Renée Lubin (a 34-year veteran of SF’s long=running Beach Blanket Babylon) lends her considerable vocal talents as “Treasure,” a nymph in Neverland. William Schmidt as “Tock The Croc” is hysterical pursuing Captain Hook (having already eaten his hand, he now wants to finish him off as a meal).
Renée Lubin as Treasure
Alina Bokovikova’s beautiful, outlandish and colorful costumes are a sight to behold as every character has a unique and sparkling look. Stacey Printz’s choreography is delightful. Presidio Theater Executive Producer Peggy Haas stated that her goal for the show is to create love and laughter for the holiday season. Vision complete!
photos by Terry Lorant
Peter Pan
Panto in the Presidio
Presidio Theatre Performing Arts Center, 99 Moraga Ave. in SF
120 minutes with intermission
Dec 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 at 1pm
Dec 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 26, 28 at 6pm
ends on December 29, 2024
for tickets ($23–$68), call 415.960.3949 visit Presidio Theatre
