Cappies Review: 'Wendy & Peter Pan' At Oakton High School

By Wilson Weingast of Lake Braddock Secondary School

"Take me back to a time before I was aware of time." We can't stay young forever, but in times of difficulty, we often turn to the memories of our youth.

Wendy and Peter Pan is a progressive retelling of J. M. Barrie's classic novel Peter Pan. First commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2013, the script by Ella Hickson, reimagines the original in which Wendy is not a femme fatale. Rather, through her own courage, she is able to save her family from Captain Hook, and restore joy to all.

The Darling family is trying to cope with the death of their youngest son, Tom (Nate Hampel). One year after his untimely death, Mr. and Mrs. Darling (John Poncy and Sarah Driessen) are constantly fighting, struggling to keep their home life together. The other two sons, John (Carson Harter) and Michael (Ben Miller), turn to their older sister Wendy (Gwen Ihde) for support. While Wendy has always been the mother figure to her siblings, she must figure out how to handle her own grief before she can comfort them. One night, she meets the boisterous Peter Pan (Colt Craddock), the boy who won't grow up. Peter takes Wendy, John, and Michael to Neverland, where they befriend the sassy fairy, Tink (Kaitlyn McCarley), the fearless Tiger Lily (Zahraa Hussain), and a band of Lost Boys. Wendy believes that if she goes to Neverland, she will find Tom and bring him home. In her quest, Wendy must fight Captain Hook (Kyumin Kim) and his swashbuckling crew.

Oakton's production sparkled with amazing performances. In the titular roles, Ihde and Craddock were phenomenal. They played off each other seamlessly, in serious and comedic scenes alike. While Ihde was more reserved, Craddock was brimming with energy. Their dynamic progressed through the show, with their evolution from friends to romantic interests appearing authentic.

The Pirates and the Lost Boys ensembles were the backbone of the show. Using their strong physicality, both groups became an extension of the set, drawing the audience into the fantastical world of Neverland. The ensembles never left a dull moment, creating space for the other actors to shine.

Additionally, Oakton's technical department was superb. From Shane Roy's set to the lighting by JJ Feeny and River Le, the designers used colors and textures to complement the characters on stage. This was underscored by the three major locations of the show: The Jolly Roger, The Forest, and The Darling Nursery. Each space was associated with a specific color - red, green, and blue respectively - and all technical elements incorporated those colors effectively.

Highlighting the major conflicts of the story were the fights, masterfully choreographed by Pyro Maguire. Maguire tailored each battle to the character. Whereas professional buccaneers, such as Hook, were more elegant with their swordplay, the Lost Boys and Peter moved sporadically. The contrast made for entertaining duels, infusing the show with a sense of peril and excitement.

Wendy and Peter Pan deals with difficult subjects centering around childhood. How do we let go of our past, but keep the happy memories alive? With Hook fighting and succumbing to time, personified as a crocodile, and the Darling children trying to remember the good times with Tom, we see why embracing our childhood is so important.

Oakton reminded us of what it is like to be a kid again. With their heartwarming production, Oakton High School took us back to a time when life was easier, back when we all believed in fairies.