Several years ago, when my child attended an international school, the students presented a production of the musical “Hello, Dolly!” in two languages. While the tunes (such as the titular melody) were in the original English of the 1964 Broadway production, the main characters (Dolly Gallagher Levi, Horace Vandergelder, and Cornelius Hackl) all spoke with one another in German! Creative Cauldron’s current production of “Peter Pan and Wendy” in Falls Church takes a similar tack in the classic tale of Peter Pan. Here Peter, the boy who wants never to grow old, and his new friends Wendy, John, and Michael, fly not just to Neverland and the world of Captain Hook and his pirates; they also segue between the English and Spanish languages and cultures.
Laura Conners Hill, the gifted Creative Cauldron founding director who adapted the production from the classic J.M. Barrie tale, explains: “Spanish immersion enriches some of our productions by blending languages, as seen in performances like the dual-language edition of ‘Peter Pan and Wendy.’ This approach not only entertains but also promotes cultural understanding and appreciation among audiences.” For this reviewer, the use of two languages also enlivens the show by highlighting other dualities embedded in the work, such as the contrasting worlds of adulthood and childhood as well as the world of everyday reality versus the world of imagination.
An actor who was especially adept as transitioning between these was Alan Guitierrez, who moved not only suavely between English and Spanish but also between two characters, for he embodied both the loving Mr. Darling, father of Wendy, as well as the wicked Captain Hook. Joining him in excellent bilingual performances were Ariel Friendly as Mrs. Darling, the mother, and Emma Lynch as Wendy. In a sense, talented Emma, like Mr. Guitierrez, also took on two parts, both as Wendy the child and Wendy the mother, for she becomes initially a maternal figure for the Lost Boys and later a mother in fact when Peter, still a youth, visits her later in life. Last but by no means least, Whit Jenkins was excellent as the eponymous Peter Pan, who also swings back and forth between English and Spanish as he swings swords to defeat the evil Captain Hook and his pirate cohorts.
The set is relatively simple, with three beds, a stylized window, and a wooden plank—for the pirates’ nemeses to walk, of course! However, the production is by no means spartan, for video projections and lighting (designed by Christian Wilson) create a world of many stars as well as the lair of the mermaids beneath the sea. Aethereal music is used to suggest the otherworldly quality of the story, but at the same time, engaging tunes are also used, for instance, “Keep the Beat,” which encourages clapping from an enthusiastic young audience and parents!
Costumes, skillfully designed by Marjie Jervis, are green-brown for Peter Pan, of course, and top hats, gloves, and Victorian gowns for the more real-world characters. A costumed dog and crocodile make delightful appearances as well!
This fun production is a wonderful exploration of language, cultural exchange, and imaginative world-building. It also contains some moving moments, for it is both lyrical and sad never to leave the world of childhood, in spite of it being a beautiful time filled with fantasy and imagination.
While this production of “Peter Pan and Wendy” closes on November 23, children are in for another Creative Cauldron treat for “Madeline’s Christmas,” which will run from December 5-21, 2025, also at Creative Cauldron’s new permanent home at 127 E. Broad Street, Falls Church, Virginia 22046.
