Peter Pan's Shadow Part One: Neverland at Dream Theatre

Centerstage - Somewhat Recommended

"...The play is designed to be first of a trilogy that will run all year. As a result, the play feels sadly incomplete. It has the stereotypical flaws of an origin story. It spends all its time introducing the characters and setting up future conflicts and not much happens in the present timeframe. One can’t help but suspect Menekseoglu engaged in quite a bit of padding to get three plays out of this material."

Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...Jeremy Menekseoglu, who also directs, achieves some whimsy here and there—Captain Hook’s deadpan amputation earns a genuine laugh, and the projections by Lawson add an element of fantasy—but he doesn’t deliver on his promising concept of a darker exploration of Peter’s world. Part One is too grim for young audiences but too thematically slight for adults. Part Two opens in May; that leaves three months for Peter Pan’s Shadow to grow out of its own arrested development."

Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended

"...It’s interesting how little space is needed to enact an epic tale encompassing two universes. Lookingglass did this well in last year’s Peter Pan, as does Dream with Peter Pan’s Shadow. Dream’s studio space has the lovely aura of an artists’ play place with that dusty smell so unique to theatres. The cast inhabits a tiny raised stage and images (beautifully designed by Tink herself, Lawson) are projected in lieu of large set pieces. And it works. Stripped down, Peter Pan’s Shadow is all the more effective: the better to see how selfish Peter’s actions are, and how damaging and far-reaching the consequences. No bells and whistles required."