The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

New York CityNYC events & culture

Finding Neverland at The Lunt-Fontanna

Finding Neverland at The Lunt-Fontanna | Theater review
19 April 2015
Patricia Contino
Avatar
Patricia Contino
19 April 2015

Finding Neverland never reaches that second star on the right. This assessment is not based on a comparison of the musical adaptation of the film of the same name with other versions of JM Barrie’s story; the new musical, with book by James Graham and lyrics and score by Gary Barlow and Eliot KennedyFINDING NEVERLAND, is lost in its ambition. Musical theater can be about anything as long as it is carefully structured. Here, sub-plots regarding writer’s block, adultery, fatherless children with a sick mother, life in the theatre, and the realization of the “big idea” are insensitively thrown together with the only lasting impression being confusion. The show is too long and there are three separate, manipulative finales trying to satisfy each plot line. Director Diane Paulus keeps things moving but there isn’t much to absorb, leaving her cast overcompensating to please.      

Another major problem is the modernizing of the Edwardian era Barrie (Matthew Morrison) and the Llewelyn Davies brothers (Aidan Gemme, Christopher Paul Richards, Sawyer Nunes, Alex Dreier) that inspired Peter Pan. The orchestration relies too heavily on electronics. The juxtaposition is jarring, a distraction from the adventures in and outside Kensington Gardens. Scott Pask’s set designs incorporating video backdrops are not magical, resembling the nightmares he created for Pillowman. While choreographer Mia Michaels incorporates Peter’s (Melanie Moore) moves and poses from iconic performers, illustrations and statues to perfection, the rest of her dances match the relentless aggression of this particular interpretation. 

Finding Neverland‘s two popular leading men are wasted. Morrison is totally committed to playing a writer whose relationship with the four boys was ambiguous to start with and is deliberately blurred onstage as well. Kelsey Grammer is properly stuffy as Barrie’s theatre manager/friend Charles Frohman. Finding Neverland only comes to life when he is Captain Hook. This would have been a really fun musical had Barrie interacted more with his creation strutting the stage in full pirate regalia.  

With all the focus on the leading men, the boys’ mother Sylvia (Laura Michelle Kelly) is kept in the background. Another lost opportunity to use a talented singer/performer.

A compilation Finding Neverland’s songs, featuring John Legend, Rita Ora and others, is set for release. Clearly producer Harvey Weinstein was preoccupied with creating interest in the musical rather than with what ended up onstage. Perhaps a film version of this musical is planned and then the serious editing-down will take place. But it will be too late for theater-goers.    

★★★★★

Patricia Contino

Finding Neverland is at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre from April 15 until September 10, for further information or to book visit here.

Related Itemsfinding neverlandmatthew morrisonnew yorkplay

More in New York City

Four New York theatre shows you need to see this winter

The editorial unit
Read More

Radio City Music Hall Rockettes star in New York Spectacular

★★★★★
Patricia Contino
Read More

Five bars in NYC to enjoy a classic cocktail

Mariana Howard
Read More

Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Belasco Theatre

★★★★★
Mariana Howard
Read More

Othello: A Dance in Three Acts at American Ballet Theatre

★★★★★
Patricia Contino
Read More

The Flatiron Hex at Dixon Place

★★★★★
Patricia Contino
Read More

Kopecky at Mercury Lounge

★★★★★
The editorial unit
Read More

Merrily We Roll Along at the Astoria Performing Arts Center

★★★★★
Patricia Contino
Read More

High River Sauces presents the third annual NYC Hot Sauce Expo

★★★★★
The editorial unit
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Patricia Contino

Finding Neverland

★★★★★

Dates

15th April - 10th September 2015

Price

$72

Links & directions

WebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Tips for creating a peaceful home
    Feature of the week
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • “Film offers a way of looking at the past, the present and the future simultaneously. That’s its wonder”: Sarah Beddington on Fadia’s Tree
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • Nope
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Five Days at Memorial
    ★★★★★
    apple
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Sensory Stories at the Museum of Moving Image | Exhibition review
Hamlet at Classic Stage Company | Theater review