Photos by Mike Watson | Courtesy Colorado Ballet
PETER PAN
Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver
January 31–February 9, 2020
The first play that I remember seeing as a child was Peter Pan. I can still remember my excitement as I watched Peter Pan inspire Wendy, John, and Michael to think happy thoughts and soar across the stage.
When the Colorado Ballet invited me to attend an opening weekend performance of their production of Peter Pan, I jumped at the chance to take my first-born son to experience the magic just as I had.
Peter Pan is a little boy's (and girl's) dream! With a boy who never has to grow up, scary pirates, beautiful Indian braves, unruly lost boys, and a mischievous fairy, who wouldn't be captivated by this story?
 Christophor Moulton and Artists of Colorado Ballet | Photo by Mike Watson |
Before the performance began, I explained to my child that in a ballet, there are no words. You need to pay attention to the tones and speed of the music from the orchestra, as well as the interactions of the ballet dancers.
The dancers made it easy to understand the story by their engaging expressions, exceptional choreography, and exaggerated gestures. The orchestra described the mood of the scene with a full sound that filled the house. There was a fun surprise when the Colorado Children's Chorale started singing, adding an extra layer to the experience.
If that still wasn't enough to let you understand what was happening, the seats in front of us were equipped with a Figaro Seatback Titling System giving cues to read along while enjoying the performance. The "Ellie" is one of only three opera houses in the US to feature this technology.
Experiencing Peter Pan with a child is so much fun. As soon as Peter flew into the air, with wide eyes my son exclaimed, "He's flying!" Fond memories from my own childhood came rushing back as I experienced it all again with my son.
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In the first act, we meet the Darling family, Peter Pan, and Tinker Bell. We get a real sense of how mischievous the boys are and how motherly Wendy is. My favorite scene from the first act was when Peter Pan danced with his shadow. My son asked me if it indeed was another dancer, not really his shadow.
The second act was in Neverland where we meet the Braves, the Pirates, a giant crocodile who pops out of the orchestra, and the lost boys.
The act ends with a tear-jerking scene where Tinker Bell, to keep him safe, drinks Peter's poisoned medicine. As she lies limply on the floor, Peter Pan encourages the audience to turn on their fiber optic wands that had been passed out by ushers at the beginning of the performance. Thousands of blinking lights filled the house to help save Tinker Bell. It was breathtaking.
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The third act takes place mostly on the pirate ship where Captain Hook holds the Darlings and their friends captive. This was my son's favorite part. The roughness of the pirates and walking the plank was fun imagery. Peter Pan tricking Hook made him laugh out loud. He can't stop talking about the duel between Hook and Peter Pan.
The sets were incredible. The way they created the clouds to make you think that they were flying right over the rooftops was fascinating. The lost boy's hideout and Captain Hook's ship were so detailed. It made us feel like we were actually there. Everything was so beautifully thought out.
Congratulations to the performers and all the people behind the scenes. It truly was a magical performance that we will remember forever!
PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES
- Friday, February 7 – 7:30 PM
- Saturday, February 8 – 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
- Sunday, February 9 – 2:00 PM & 6:30 PM
TICKETS
- Tickets range from $30 to $155
- Visit coloradoballet.org or call Patron Services at (303) 837-8888, ext. 2, to purchase tickets.
- To continue to reduce the number of ticket resellers, please purchase directly through Colorado Ballet via the website or phone number listed above. Tickets purchased through resellers may not be valid.
COLORADO BALLET UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
- Tour de Force Featuring Feast of the Gods, Celts, and a World Premiere: March 6–8, 2020
- Ballet MasterWorks Featuring Theme & Variations, Petite Mort, and In the Upper Room: April 3–12, 2020
Disclaimer: I received two tickets to Peter Pan for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was provided. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.
ABOUT COLORADO BALLET
Presenting exceptional classical ballet and innovative contemporary dance through performances, training, education, and community engagement, Colorado Ballet continues to inspire and grow an increasingly diverse audience base in Denver, Colorado.
Established in 1961 by Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, Colorado Ballet is a non-profit organization celebrating 59 years of excellence. As a world-class professional company, Colorado Ballet presents 55 performances annually to sold-out audiences in the 2,000 seat Ellie Caulkins Opera House. The Company’s 32 professional dancers and 21 studio company dancers come from all over the world. Colorado Ballet’s The Armstrong Center for Dance, a 35,000 square foot building, boasts eight state-of-the-art professional dance studios and amenities for the professional Company.
Under the direction of Artistic Director Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet performs classical ballet masterpieces, full-length story ballets and its critically-acclaimed repertory production Ballet MasterWorks, featuring varied works from neoclassical ballets to world premieres.
The Raydean Acevedo Colorado Ballet Academy serves over 1,200 students from toddlers to seniors each year. Colorado Ballet’s Education and Community Engagement programming serves under-resourced students, teachers, families, people with disabilities and lifelong learners, reaching more than 35,000 contacts in 300 schools and organizations annually. For more information please visit coloradoballet.org.
SPONSORS
Colorado Ballet’s Peter Pan is presented by MidFirst Bank. Colorado Ballet receives support from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Supporting sponsors for this production include Accenture, Genesee Mountain Foundation, Occidental, Colorado Ballet Auxiliary and the Colorado Athletic Club.
