SANDY — Growing up enchanted by the tale of Peter Pan—with its fairy dust, pirate duels, and happy thoughts — makes us believe we, too, can fly. However, this tale of a boy who never grows up is a fairly new add to literary canon. Finding Neverland tells the origin of J.M. Barrie’s beloved play, revealing the heartwarming and bittersweet journey that led to the creation of characters like Captain Hook and the ticking crocodile. Hale Centre Theatre‘s stage production masterfully blends whimsy and poignancy, reminding us that while time pushes us to grow up, there’s still a child inside who never will.
Finding Neverland: The Musical is based on the Miramax motion picture written by David Magee and the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee. The musical has a book by James Graham and music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy. Finding Neverland first premiered on Broadway in 2015. At Hale Centre Theatre, under the direction of Dave Tinney, the show soars with creativity, heart, and theatrical magic.
Performers
Derek Smith stars as J.M. Barrie, bringing warmth, introspection, and childlike wonder to the role. D. Smith really got the momentum of the show moving with “My Imagination” as he sang about his inner longing for his childhood imagination and the playful way to reimagine reality. With the cast dressed like knights, mermaids, and people with animal and flower heads, the childlike joy and creativity of the show really started to take flight.
Bre Welch plays the kind-hearted widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, mother of the four boys who inspired Barrie’s play. Her performance radiates warmth and sincerity, with a stunning voice that shines in “All That Matters.” Welch captures both maternal devotion and the quiet sorrow of impending loss.
The Llewelyn Davies boys—Ryan Clark (Peter), Payson Inkley (George), Hunter Jones (Jack), and Mason Burnham (Michael)—are wonderfully cast. Their garden scene performance of “We’re All Made of Stars” is full of charm and innocence. Clark’s portrayal of Peter really showcases his emotions as he goes from wanting to be grown up to playful and then upset over learning of his mother’s illness. Burnham adds levity and delight, especially in his comical ticket taker scene and hilarious act as Lady Ursula.
Lelini “Chubby” Iongi embodies the spirit of Peter Pan with impish charm, flitting across the stage and playfully helping Barrie find his shadow. He is the physical manifestation of Barrie’s inner child—elusive, mischievous, and full of life.
Exploring the darker side of his imagination, J.M. Barrie creates the infamous Captain Hook played by David Paul Smith. With a crazed laugh and intense stare D.P. Smith is outstanding in his characterization of the villainous pirate. Exclaiming “Unleash Me!” in the song “Stronger”, D. Smith and D.P. Smith bring the creation of Captain Hook and the pirates to life with an exciting and epic song that is set on a large pirate ship created on stage during the song.
Production Design
Nate Bertone’s scenic design transforms the theatre with enormous books on the stage. The entire theatre was surrounded with large books and giant sheets of paper with illustrations of Peter Pan and scrawling words projected across the stage. The oversized set created a feeling of being a small fairy on the shelf watching a story come to life.
The whole technical aspect of this show is gorgeous. One of the most jaw-dropping technical achievements is the appearance of the giant crocodile during “Circus of Your Mind.” Constructed from large circular clock props that rolled around the stage and turned into the abdomen as a huge crocodile head and tail came out on stage completing the timeless monster – massive, ominous, and unforgettable.
Hale Centre Theatre’s signature aerial effects are in full force here. The fly system is used to stunning effect, lifting actors high above the stage and audience, immersing everyone in the magic of flight. It’s one of the theatre’s signature strengths and a standout feature of this production. In Utah, HCT is unique with it’s fly system capability that can amaze the audience. They use not only the lateral space of the stage but utilizes the entire space above and below the stage to create a set that is visually amazing from every seat in the audience. With actors doing aerial stunts high above the stage and audience, the show really brings a wow factor!
Despite a small technical issue at the end of the show with the large book set piece being unable to lower down for the final scene, the actors were able to adjust and conclude the show with a fantastic finish.
The live-theatre charm of being able to adapt only added to the night’s energy and authenticity.
Lighting designer Jaron Kent Hermansen adds magic to the show with the use of lighting to depict pixie dust and spotlights to create shadows and silhouettes. Video and Projection Design by Madeline Ashton add visual texture and movement to the scenes. This was especially powerful with scrawling scripts moving across the pages of the stage and the shadows and silhouettes across the space.
Joy Zhu created so many colorful and dazzling costumes. The visual compilation of all the costumes were seamless in their cohesion and fitting to the time period. The added sparkle and finesse to all of the women’s costumes gave elegance and each tailored and lovely in their own way. The nod to having Peter Llewelyn-Davies always dressed in green compared to his brothers set him apart as the boy Peter Pan was named after. The costumes of the theatre actors in J.M. Barrie’s play were dressed with a simpler and more shabby look, really playing into the lack of funds for the theatre seen easily while contrasting the play’s simple Captain Hook costume to the elaborate and fancy Imaginary Captain Hook.
Impressive dance numbers choreographed by Lindsey D. Smith included the lively tavern song “Play”. With the adult company dancing around and singing childhood nursery rhymes the song was invigorating.
Final Thoughts
Finding Neverland at Hale Centre Theatre is an uplifting, emotional journey that captures the magic of storytelling, the ache of growing up, and the joy of letting your imagination take flight. With stellar performances, breathtaking visuals, and heartfelt music, it’s a show that appeals to both the child and the grown-up in all of us.
Tickets are going fast—some performances are already sold out—so grab yours soon. Just think of a happy thought, look to the second star to the right, and find your way to Neverland before the clock runs out.
These reviews are made possible by a grant from the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks program.
