Written By Susan Silva // Image Created By: The Golden Bay Times Graphics Dept.
Peter Pan has survived pirates, crocodiles, and countless trips to Neverland. But nothing could prepare him for the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society. In Peter Pan Goes Wrong, playing at San Francisco Playhouse through November 28, the beloved children's adventure becomes a spectacular comedy of errors, where the only thing guaranteed to fly is common sense straight out the window.
Written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer, the mischievous minds behind The Play That Goes Wrong, this production follows a hopelessly unprepared amateur theater company attempting to stage J.M. Barrie's classic tale. Their ambitions are enormous. Unfortunately, their talent for catastrophe is even greater. Forgotten lines, troublesome props, unpredictable scenery, and flying equipment with a mind of its own turn a familiar fairy tale into a theatrical demolition derby.
Director Susi Damilano, who also directed the Playhouse's 2024 production of The Play That Goes Wrong, understands that great slapstick requires serious discipline. Every awkward pause, mistimed entrance, and apparent accident demands extraordinary precision. The result is a production that looks dangerously close to falling apart while demonstrating remarkable theatrical control.
Ezra Reaves plays Peter Pan, attempting to maintain the boyish confidence of Neverland's famous resident while the production around him refuses to cooperate. Maggie Mason brings Wendy Darling into the confusion, joined by Joe Ayers and Greg Ayers as her brothers, Michael and John. Their determination to continue the adventure despite mounting difficulties gives the comedy much of its charm.
Jomar Tagatac makes a wonderfully theatrical Captain Hook, while Patrick Russell tackles several roles, including Nana, the Darling family's unfortunate dog. Phaedra Tillery-Boughton adds another delicious layer of frustration as the narrator, and Terrance Austin Smith contributes to the confusion as backstage technician Trevor.What impressed me most is the physical comedy. Scenic designer Cody Tellis Rutledge has created a revolving world of nursery rooms, pirate adventures, and theatrical surprises that becomes practically another character. The flying sequences are especially ambitious, requiring careful coordination to make planned mishaps appear spontaneous.
Not every joke lands with equal force. The relentless parade of disasters sometimes makes the comedy predictable, and occasionally I wanted the script to give its characters more room to breathe. Yet the cast's enthusiasm and sharp comic timing repeatedly win me over.
Underneath the ridiculous accidents lies something surprisingly sweet. These fictional performers desperately want their show to succeed. Their determination to continue, even when absolutely nothing cooperates, gives the nonsense an appealing human touch.
Running approximately two hours and five minutes, including intermission, Peter Pan Goes Wrong is not a quiet evening of sophisticated drama. It is loud, silly, energetic, and proudly ridiculous.
For my money, that's precisely its appeal. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys old-fashioned physical comedy, theatrical surprises, and watching talented performers turn fictional incompetence into an art form.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong runs through November 28, 2026, at San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post Street, near Union Square. Tickets range from $60 to $145, and the production is recommended for ages eight and older. Information and reservations are available at sfplayhouse.org or 415-677-9596.
For more Info Click : San Francisco Playhouse
TGBT Rating: B+
