A visual and musical treat

That Peter Pan sure gets around! From a book to the stage, to the movies, to a musical, to an animated version by Walt Disney, to television and, now, to a ballet performed by the Peninsula Ballet Theatre.

After watching PBT, the second oldest professional ballet company in the Bay Area, rehearsing the Northern California premier of Bruce Steivel’s originally choreographed 1999 work and a DVD of a previous production, I could have opened this preview with: "You should go!” This one is not only for the kids, but for the whole family and even grandma and grandpa, too.

Ballet dancers have always aspired to jump higher and higher through the years and, now, with the aid of flying machines, their fondest dreams are being realized in this production. Nijinsky and Pavlova must be spinning in their graves with envy.

There are more than 30 professional dancers, eight children from PBT’s Conservatory dancing the "lost boys,” many aerial pas de deux, a dancing Indian tribe, an onstage pirate ship full of pirates, the notorious Captain Hook dancing samba with a crocodile who had been pursuing to eat him. Flying is achieved by an offstage crew of eight. The original musical score is beautiful. This Peninsula Ballet Theater production is a winner and could replace the traditional "Nutcracker” as a Christmas treat.

Since there will be only three performances of this ballet version this coming weekend, I took the liberty of watching the rehearsals and reviewing a DVD of a previous performance as a preview. As a result, I am able to see this ballet as even for people who don’t think they would like ballets.

Dancer Gabriel Williams, with his pixyish, youthful face is perfect for the impish Peter Pan. His flighty and jealous sidekick, the fairy Tinkerbell, is Adrianna Benson.

Of the earthlings, Amanda McGovern has the looks from girlish to maternal concern that brings life to the traditional version of Wendy Darling. The top-hatted and umbrella-carrying John is Alec Lytton and the teddy bear-carrying Michael is Jacob Kreamer, her younger brothers, the quintessential, mischievous little brats. Their mothering nursemaid, the St. Bernard dog Nana, is Karin Proven.

After Peter takes Wendy and her brothers on a flying trip into "Neverland,” we find Bobby Bernstein as Tiger Lily, the leader of a dancing Indian tribe, Nathan Cottam as the villainous and dark Captain Hook and Cason McBride as the hungry, dancing Crocodile. And, also, we find a darling covey of children dancing the "Lost Boys” and a band of ruthless pirates to try to capture them.

There are people walking the plank, a hilarious samba dance by Captain Hook and the Crocodile, Peter’s duel to death with Hook, the Indian Tribe dancing to traditional rhythms and the "Lost Boys” doing body flips.

The choreography is original and inspired and the music very appropriate. This PBT version of the ballet "Peter Pan” is a visual and musical treat for dance lovers and those who should be.

IF YOU GO:

‘Peter Pan’

Ballet version of Sir James M. Barrie’s stories about "Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up.”

Choreographed by: Bruce Steivel

Original musical score by: Thomas Semanski

PERFORMED BY: Peninsula Ballet Theatre

Directed by: Bruce Steivel

WHERE: San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 600 N. Delaware St., San Mateo

WHEN: Three performances only: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 16 and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 17

TICKETS: Child: $25 - $50; Youth: $30-$55; Seniors: $30-$55 and Adults: $35-$60

CONTACT: 342-3262 or tickets@peninsulaballet.org