The team behind the global hit, The Play That Goes Wrong, brings their trademark comic mayhem to the J.M. Barrie classic Peter Pan. Peter Pan Goes Wrong is a highly physical comedy packed with finely-tuned and inspired slapstick, delivered with split-second timing and ambitious daring. The play sees the ‘Cornley Drama Society’ back on stage battling technical hitches, flying mishaps and cast disputes as they attempt to present J.M Barrie’s much-loved tale. But will they ever make it to Neverland?
The best way to enjoy Peter Pan Goes Wrong, in fact, may be to take it as some kind of comedy of errors. And even as I drafted worried letters in my head to Actors’ Equity and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, I was unable to resist joining the laughers in the audience on frequent occasions: Seeing actors desperately commit to going on with a show is a reliable comic hook, even if they lack the initial dignity that could make the fails even funnier. Yet as in Cornley’s last show, the game resilience of the actors—as they suffer through relentless variations on disaster slapstick—gets a little tiring, at least for me, when offered in a two-hour dose. They push through the pain and keep on pushing, but the fun of watching them peters out.
Putting on my curmudgeon's hat for just a moment, I did find the production to be sluggishly paced at times. Director Adam Meggido is best known for his work in improv theater, but while slapstick may look improvised, it does require precise timing in order to seem unpredictably spontaneous to an audience. Yet, especially in the overlong first act, the humor comes off as forced and repetitive, along with too much of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan and not enough of the 'Goes Wrong' part. The narrative also incorporates some backstage drama that bleeds into the silly stuff and threatens to sour the fun. That being said, however, if you are looking for a hefty serving of daft goofiness, or if you loved The Play That Goes Wrong and would relish more of the same, you will get what you are looking for in the second act when general pandemonium is the order of the day. That's when the fun really takes off and makes this a worthy entry into the 'Goes Wrong' franchise.
General Rush
Price: $45
Where: Barrymore Theatre box office on the day of the performance.
When: Available at each performance when the Box Office opens at 10AM the day of the performance.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Determined at the discretion of the box office. Subject to daily availability.
Digital Lottery:
Price: $40
Where: PanGoesWrongBway.com/Lottery
When: Entries for the Peter Pan Goes Wrong digital lottery starts at 12 AM, one day before the performance, and winners are drawn the same day at 10 AM and 3 PM
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Tickets are subject to availability.
2016 | West End |
West End Return Engagement West End |
2023 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2023 | West End |
West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Featured Performer in a Play | Neil Patrick Harris |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design of a Play | Roberto Surace |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Play | Adam Meggido |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Unique Theatrical Experience | Peter Pan Goes Wrong |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Peter Pan Goes Wrong |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Play | Adam Meggido |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Peter Pan Goes Wrong |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical) | Simon Scullion |
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