By Jana Monji
This week, Daniel Dae Kim steps into the narrator role as part of the Peter Pan Goes Wrong cast at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Emmy Award-winning actor Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) had previously taken the role. Expect the role of narrator Francis Beaumont to be personalized for Kim by the three playwrights- Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields who are also part of this ensemble cast.
The 2016 TV adaptation of the play is available to stream on Broadway HD through streaming services like Amazon Prime. David Suchet plays the narrator in the TV version.
The premise is that the fictional Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society puts on plays despite being low on talent. They are funded by a relative of one of the least talented players. Beginning with the 2012 The Play Goes Wrong (Best New Comedy Olivier Award), the writing team took on an Agatha Christie-like 1920s murder mystery performance (The Murder at Haversham Manor) but faced many disasters.
The Play Goes Wrong came to the Ahmanson in 2018 (after opening on Broadway in 2017) and it was fun, but this company was just warming up. This play is even better.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong has the Cornley Drama Society trying to perform J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan. This isn’t the Broadway musical that originally starred Mary Martin (or more recently Cathy Rigby), but there is some music.
Beginning in the Darling children’s bedroom, Peter Pan has visited before but tonight he comes to retrieve his shadow. With the help of a very large Tinker Bell, he finds the shadow and Wendy helps him sew it back on. Peter Pan takes Wendy and her brothers to Neverland where they will be free of adult restrictions, except for the threatening presence of Captain Hook.
As you can imagine, so much can go wrong when you have to make adults pretend to be flying children. Simon Scullion’s scenic design includes a rotating set that changes from the Darling children’s bedroom to Captain Hook’s pirate ship to Peter Pan’s hideout.
Go early because this is an immersive experience that begins before the curtain rises. For tickets or more information, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org. Daniel Dae Kim continues until September 10. From September 12 to 17, Neil Patrick Harris joins the cast.
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