Peter Pan is back at the Diablo Light Opera Company to present this truly excellent family entertainment value now through September 29th in the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. James M. Barrie’s classic children’s tale of children wanting to “never grow up” has been reformulated by Director Daren A. C. Carollo with even more spectacular sets and costumes, more complicated and imaginative soaring, terrific actors and actresses, thrill young and old alike.

Peter Pan (Brandy Collazo) excels as an adventuresome lad who lives perpetually in Barrie’s wonderful land of adventure where a child will always stay a child, where one never has to grow up and face the trials and tribulations of adulthood. Wendy Darling (Rena Wilson) who plays mother to the “Lost Boys of Never Never Land” is equally enjoyable and believable. Captain Hook (Tom Reardon) is campy and delightfully reprehensible, as is his chief minion, Smee (Marty Newton), as they plot a lot to capture the lost boys and to do away with the flying boy wonder, Peter Pan. The entire cast delivers a stellar production that rivets the children to the edge of their seats.

The outstanding direction on many fronts makes this production near seamless perfection. Choreographer Lawrence Pech sets the upbeat, complicated, intricate interaction in high gear and it never falters for a moment. The dancing Indians, the prancing pirates, the loveable Darling family, all move promptly, exactly as they must, to make this production move along as well as it does. Conductor Cheryl Yee Glass again delivers superb orchestration. The sets designed by Kent Homchick are very innovative and the lighting and sound design by Chris Guptill and Don Tieck contribute significantly to the overall excellence of this production.

The time is perfect for an end of summer adventure with your children and grandchildren, so call the Regional Center at (925) 943- (SHOW) 7469 to reserve your seats. This production plays Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., with two special Thursday 11 a.m. productions on September 20th and 27th. Ticket prices are very reasonable and range between $18 and $40 depending on date and time. This is a STEAL when you consider what it would cost in San Francisco. You can also visit the DLOC web site at http://www.dloc.org/ for more information.