I was at the matinee today, too.
The staging, direction, performances, and score were all wonderful.
The script, however, needs to be cut WAY down to an 80-minute no-intermission show. There are MANY minutes in the show that just lag on and on and on. At intermission there was no button to indicate that there was going to be a break.
For me, the real treat was to see Barrie's novel done on stage. They included the Kite, the Wolves, and the Never Bird. Some of Barrie's words worked magnificently on stage. Others became narrative that was not needed.
Other than the issues with the script, Karen Kandel's performance was majestic and the real highlight of the piece. Her acting was so strong -- you forgot you were watching puppets.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
