For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday

See it if you like Peter Pan and enjoy watching special effects like flying on stage.

Don't see it if you are looking for a light-hearted, didactic Sarah Ruhl play. I didn't really feel like I left the theatre with a message to take with me.

See it if you have never seen Kathleen Chalfant on stage. Regardless of the shortcomings of the play, she is a theatrical treasure and not be missed.

Don't see it if you prefer plays with a dramatic arc or real stakes and character development; if lengthy conversations about aging and politics bore you.

See it if You like Kathleen Chalfant and would go to see her read the phone book.

Don't see it if You love Peter Pan, and have any expectations of a Pan-like theater experience.

Also The promotional info for this show made it sound charming and engaging. Instead it was uneven, depressing, and not sure what the author was trying to say or was aiming for.... Read more Read less

See it if you want in interesting show about aging

Don't see it if you are ok with the fact that the third scene offers zero payoff after a great buildup in the first two.

See it if - You're dealing with grief. - You are older than 25. - You love the story of Peter Pan.

Don't see it if - You're looking for minority voices. - You're looking for a youthful perspective. - You don't get the hype behind Peter Pan.

See it if Are interested in an interesting story.

Don't see it if Get confused easily. Still trying to sorta figure out this show

See it if you want to see a reflection of a real family and a specific yet universal story.

Don't see it if you want a lot of plot because this is mostly driven by emotion

See it if you're a fan of Sarah Ruhl or Kathleen Chalfant.

Don't see it if you have an issue with long digressions which don't seem to go anywhere, or if you don't like magic realism

See it if Not at all

Don't see it if Are limited with the number of shows you see

See it if You are fans of the author, actors or director. If you don't care if the set matches and enhances the story.

Don't see it if You like a well written story that doesn't waste time or words and a set design that is clever and enhances the show.

See it if you want a quiet meditation on life and death, memory play, are fascinated by the psyche of the Peter Pan story

Don't see it if you need something fast paced, with more short scenes instead of 3 long ones, if you would rather see a play with young actors

See it if you don't need full-on realism, you're a Chalfant, Ruhl, or Playwrights Horizons fan, you like family stories, you don't mind tonal shifts

Don't see it if you can't watch another realistic family deathbed scene, you don't like whimsy, you don't like plays to switch stylistic horses midstream

Also This isn't Clean House. The play could have used some cutting, it sags at times. Sarah Ruhl's plays are never naturalistic, but rather than shifting gears seamlessly from realism to fantasy and back throughout, the gears clash a bit here, and the leap into third-act fantasy may not work for everyone. I enjoyed the sharply observed family dynamics and the fine ensemble acting, as well as the chance to see Kathleen Chalfant, as one of the siblings and eventually as Peter Pan (no spoilers...the extensive program notes spill plenty). Keith Reddin also shines in the third act, bursting with the joy of the child Michael. Neverland won me over.
For those who attend many PH shows, we've become accustomed to set malfunctions, and part of the fun is waiting for them. We weren't disappointed, and Lisa Emery's poise alone was worth the trip.... Read more Read less

See it if You like to see unusual, risk-taking, quirky things or are a big Ruhl fan.

Don't see it if You need tight narrative cohesion and obvious forward momentum.

See it if You (like I) love all the "back-story" works about Peter (Finding Neverland, Peter & the Starcatchers, etc.). You love Kathleen Chalfant.

Don't see it if You need your stories wrapped up tight with a bow. You need heavy "plot action". You prefer literalism over symbolism.

See it if You are a member of Sarah Rule's family

Don't see it if You are not a member of Sarah Rule's family

See it if You like classic shows updated

Don't see it if if you are looking for a great or moving show...I recommend picking another show.

See it if you love Chalfant. She soars (literally!) even in an incoherent vehicle. But what gibberish she and her cast mates must speak. Bad script.

Don't see it if you want insights. Discussions (religion, politics, euthanasia) are superficial. Ruhl delivers a mess. Waste of talented cast/expensive set.

Also The original Peter Pan packs a wallop at the end when Wendy must stay behind ("you're too old") and let daughter Jane have adventures. The point is that people do grow up...which brings gains and losses. Here, there is no insight, no poignancy. Just an excuse to make everyone fly (which gets old really fast). And the talk (talk, talk) is excruciatingly banal. So many ineffective tricks pander to the audience (dad's ghost/ dog onstage/grown men in pjs/ etc).... Read more Read less

See it if If this gets SEVERELY reworked in previews.

Don't see it if you don’t want to fall asleep, be treated to puerile platitudes about growing up then watch a TV version of what a bad high school play is.

Also This was very amateurish.
The play is divided into 3 scenes.
On the first one you there are 3 segments of about 3 minutes where literally nothing happens. One of, the lights are dimmed as we “experience” the actors sleeping………….
On the second scene, the platitudes start. A virtual google search on “fear of growing up quotes” without a shred of self-reflection or attempt at any original thought.
Lastly, the bizarre “dream” sequence. No words can describe it. Painfully embarrassing to watch.
It’s just juvenile and boring. The theme of fear of growing up is a hot one now, unfortunately this play does nothing to further the conversation. Much on the contrary, it glorifies the stunted growth of individuals.... Read more Read less

See it if Cast is good, but writing & direction is strange & disjointed. 1st part is painfully slow, 2nd part is tedious & 3rd part is just bizarre.

Don't see it if It's all over the place. At one point I felt like I was watching improv exercises for a high school theater troupe. No clear vision/voice.

Also The play is actually very hard to describe. I went from being bored to tears to being flabbergasted by what I was watching. This was the first preview. For the sake of the show I hope it goes through many changes before opening.... Read more Read less

See it if You like intimate family dramas, especially if you were raised Catholic, in a small town even better.

Don't see it if You don't want to face death, family and politics all coming to a boiling point.

See it if This was excruciating. Disjointed plot with a weak script. Couldn't wait for it to end. Ambitious for sure but a rough watch.

Don't see it if I like to give most shows especially ones at Playwrights a break but this was a miss. Sorry.

See it if A taut, well directed ensemble bring out the best in Ruhl's choppy autobiographical tritych Opening scene emotionally wrenching & the best

Don't see it if Death, aging & the afterlife may not be considered 'entertainment' to many but Ruhl's writting often sharp & poignant Middle act is a slog

See it if semi-autobiographical portrayal of playwright's family arguing about death, religion, politics well-acted but not very theatrical

Don't see it if at end recreating Peter Pan-like tale w family members as characters 2 explore issues of death/becoming an adult, etc. doesn't work

See it if you're a human getting older.

Don't see it if you have no qualms about aging or dying.

See it if you wish to see a very clever retelling of the Peter Pan story. Excellent cast with wonderful and amusing set. Entertaining intelligent show

Don't see it if you do not like any story about Peter Pan.