Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...It's serviceable enough, and there are some real moments of heart-tugging awe near the end. But what's lacking is a focus on the messiness of Barrie's relationship with the boys and their widowed mother. (In reality, Barrie met Sylvia while her husband was still alive.) We hear that Edwardian tongues are wagging about Barrie spending so much time with Sylvia and the boys, but the weight of public disapproval never presents any serious dramatic conflicts here."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...With a well-crafted if generic score by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, and with a book by James Graham that spells out far more than necessary (and would have benefited from a major trim), "Neveland" has now arrived at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in a lavishly staged, ingeniously designed national touring production."
Daily Herald - Somewhat Recommended
"...What's confusing about "Finding Neverland" is its inability to find a consistent emotional or storytelling tone. One moment, director Diane Paulus steers the supporting cast to be so over-the-top with cartoonish British snootiness, it's like they're escapees from a door-slamming British sex farce. Later on, when Barrie pleads for unfettered child's play to help Sylvia's eldest son emotionally heal from his father's death, it feels like a different show."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...What's more, a musical is simply the right mode for a tale so full of whimsy. Both the dancing by choreographer Mia Michaels and the undanced movement by director Diane Paulus are idiosyncratic fun, the effects are beautiful, and the cast exudes an exuberance that's a joy to share."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...Still, if you have kids, the fact that it’s sort of about Peter Pan might just be enough to win them over. Oh, and also there’s a real live dog in the cast—and he is a very good dog."
ShowBizChicago - Highly Recommended
"...The Ensemble of Finding Neverland is solid from top to bottom with many memorable performances being turned in. This company is a true definition of an ensemble. They are all working together every second of this show and it has a huge payout."
Stage and Cinema - Recommended
"...More than in the movie—where the show and its source were kept cunningly apart—Finding Neverland perpetrates a blurring of origins and dreams that in effect shortchanges Barrie’s achievement: He didn’t just borrow from life; as the boys’ free-form play suggested, he improved on it. Peter Pan is a fantastical fusion of Robert Louis Stevenson, Edward Lear, Victorian pantomime, dime store Western adventures, the actual Davies brothers, and, above all, the brain of Barrie. That’s where Neverland started and stayed, not in a Broadway musical’s “lost and found.”"
ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended
"...Finding Neverland does have some cute moments. The four boys and Barrie ‘play’ well in a cute way. Tom Hewit’s Captain Hook alter-ego hilariously haunts Barrie and the cast of ensemble actors spoofed classical players of the time on the London stage. Children will enjoy parts of this overly long production ( 2 hours, 40 minutes) but eventually it will wear out its welcome. Best to trim act one and make this musical a ‘toned-down’ to a 95 minute one act. Playing off Peter Pan isn’t enough."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The book by James Graham with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy is in no way a continuation of the music from "Peter Pan" and while it is not a score that will have you humming as you exit the theater, you will find yourself impressed by the glorious numbers in the show."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...There’s much to recommend about this National Tour. The musical relates a touching story that’s worth telling. It sheds new light on the life of a notable author and playwright. It shows how art often imitates life, while providing a backstory for the creation of Peter Pan. The cast is talented and likable, playing their roles with energy and honesty. And Gary Barlow’s gorgeous music, with its Celtic roots, is pleasantly addictive. Even though an argument could be made that a simpler production would better employ the audience’s own imagination, a quality celebrated in this play, theatergoers will certainly get their money’s worth. Audiences of all ages will leave the theatre knowing the man who was Peter Pan."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Highly Recommended
"...The combination of real life themes interwoven with adventure, magic and friendship creates a narrative that never fails to appeal to children in awe and adults who love finding their inner Neverland!"
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...Finding Neverland exceeded my expectations in that it teaches us all lasting lessons along with the beautiful story it presents. We are reminded that it's a privilege to grow old, yet we don't have to lose our inner child to do so. There are stories in every moment, every scene, if we just choose to look for them. And it's the magic of life we should cherish most of all, through surrounding ourselves with our loved ones and having no regrets as we pursue our dreams authentically and create our lives. Thank you, J.M. Barrie, for reminding us of these necessary truths, truths I surely won't ever forget."
Picture This Post - Somewhat Recommended
"...People who love spectacle, easy entertainment and cartoonish shows will enjoy Finding Neverland. Not recommended for those expecting the depth and tender quality of the 2004 film. These fans of the movie will likely find this play disappointing, and often difficult to follow."