photo by Kevin Sprague
Left to Right: Douglas Sills (Captain Hook) and Nancy Anderson (Peter Pan)
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If you recall a place where dreams are born and time is never planned, then you are ready for a triumphant return to Paper Mill Playhouse of its amazing production of "Peter Pan," playing now through June 27. No matter what age you are, get your tickets NOW! This is an evening of feel-good fun, with a cast that is one of this season's most memorable.

The brilliant Nancy Anderson plays the eternal boy, cartwheeling her way into your heart. This is a performer accustomed to assuming a thousand-and-one guises, as those of us who saw her work in "Yank" can attest. This erstwhile Betty Grable makes a Pan for the memory books, and the adults have a very different appreciation of the physical requirements and the aplomb and utter joy that shows in every scene she's in.

The Darlings include the serene and beautiful Glory Crampton, the leading lady we adore, as Mrs. Darling, and the divine character actor Douglas Sills, as the peremptory Mr. Darling. Of course, Sills has the double role that also boasts a bravura performance as Captain Hook. By turns fop and bully, Sills interacts seamlessly with the audience, ad libbing some wonderful things into the script. An allusion to John O'Creagh, here our Smee, refers to dreams and ideas Hook has, including something with a kite and a key. This is an arch reference to O'Creagh who was Andrew McNair in "1776," an interesting nugget itself.

The Darling children, who really are, are Hayley Podschun as the lovely Wendy, Josh Pins as John and, on the evening I was there, Lewis Grosso as Michael. What a romp this show is for younger and more experienced actors alike. Especially when you get to fly into a star spangled background. Each of these actors treated the flying as if it was as natural as breathing-a beautiful and joyful sight.

Jessica Lee Goldyn plays Tiger Lily and, I must confess, she's my new favorite flower. Playing the role with a lithe athleticism and a clear admiration for her new blood brother, Peter, Goldyn is a consummate dancer, hitting her marks with grace and beauty. She leads a troupe of Indians, who are occasionally Pirates, and this is excellently executed, good clean fun.

One of my favorite scenes is the opening of Act II. When Peter and Tiger Lily cement their treaty as blood brothers, their warrior bands combine in a gorgeous athletic dance, with the deep thrumming of drums and the percussive tattoo of rhythm that made me wonder how the parents in the audience would ever get their progeny to sleep.

The star by far, though Sills comes awfully close, is Anderson. She illuminates every scene she's in with a Tinkerbell halo. When she comes to the defining moment of the show, and she declaims that "I am YOUTH," there is no way not to believe. Her timing with the audience, bringing Tinkerbell back from the brink of infinity, is perfect for the children in the audience. And I confess, I've never seen Sandy Duncan or even Mary Martin as Peter, so Anderson's performance will be the one I compare all others to, and those that come forward have big, green shoes to fill.

"Peter Pan" will play on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92. Student rush tickets are $20 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973/376-4343, going to the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online, visiting www.papermill.org. Paper Mill Playhouse gift cards, available in any denomination, can be purchased at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 25% discount on tickets and should call 973/379-3636 ext. 2438.