Peter Pan Flies Into Tamarindo

The Beach Nuts Theatre Company and Amigos De Le Education put on the play, Peter Pan, from May 13th – 15th at the Diria Amphitheatre. It was an extremely professional presentation. Directed by Paul Belanger, who is a noted actor and director from Canada, Peter Pan starred 28 actors who worked for two months to perform the J.M. Barrie play.

The story is about three children who follow Peter Pan to Neverland, only to meet up with Captain Hook and his pirate crew. Peter Pan was played by August Beckwith, a young performer who has had some acting experience in his previous home in Utah. August met Paul when his family moved to Tamarindo, and he volunteered to take on the role. His mother, Lori, portrayed two parts in the play; Mrs. Darling, the mother to Wendy, John and Michael, and the pirate, Smee, Captain Hook’s right-hand man. “We have an acting family,” August said. Brother Sage was also a pirate.

For Milia Vanderwalle, this was her first play. She saw the Beach Nut Theatre Company’s first production last December of Cinderella and was so impressed that she wanted to take part in their next one. As for Peter Pan, she felt that, “Everyone did a great job.”

The audience universally agreed that 5-year-old Anika Almquist, as Tinkerbell, stole the show as she flitted from place to place while making her strange fairy sound. “You can fly and you can go this way and that and give fairy dust. I got to wear a sparkly dress and shoes,” Anika explained, “and I spent two months practicing.”

Another crowd pleaser, which drew loud “Boos” at his every appearance, was Captain Hook played by Cory Hahn. Cory met Paul during the auditions for Fe De Agua and was also a stepsister in the production of Cinderella. He has seen the Beach Nuts Theatre Company grow from 10 people to 35 people. “By the reaction of the crowd and the support of the community we have a lot to be proud of.” Hahn confirmed.

No one was prouder then Peter Pan’s director, Paul Belanger, at the end of the 3-day run. He said that every time he does a play, people learn that they can help. The idea is that Community Theatre is alive and well in Tamarindo, and the goal is to keep it going for a long time. Paul concluded, “I think Peter Pan grew from the beginning and it peaked at the right moment. My life is full of blessings, two of which are putting smiles on the kids’ faces and instilling them with a sense of teamwork. I love them all.”