With Moonlight Troupers' current production of Peter Pan, director Robert F. Kauffman closes his 31-year theatrical career on the highest possible note.

The musical by Mark Charlap, Carolyn Leigh, Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green not only retains its pixyish charm but acquires added zing in the Moonlighters' production now at Anne Arundel Community College's Pascal Center for the Performing Arts.

Amazingly professional for a college production, this Peter Pan is top-flight entertainment. The sets are superbly engineered artworks that work well, look great and break away on cue. Meticulously painted backdrops immediately fall into place with minimal downtime. From leads down to the smallest part, all 27 actors are well-cast, playing their roles beautifully.

In the pit, musical director Raymond Ascione leads a Broadway-sounding 22-piece orchestra offering a lively overture featuring such favorites as "I'm Flying," "I've Gotta Crow" and "Never Never Land." Later, Ascione's musicians sensitively accompany soloists and chorus singers. The score is given added zest by the singing and dancing cast.

And when Peter and the Darling children fly into the starry sky, the audience sees genuine magic, courtesy of Flying By Foy and a skilled backstage crew headed by Peter Kaiser.

Having served as flight master for the earlier two productions of Peter Pan, Kaiser expertly handles the double demands of technical director and designer. Kathy Lingo's choreography is first-rate, in and out of the air, and seems almost flawlessly executed by the cast.

Soon after James M. Barrie wrote the play Peter Pan in 1904, Peter became part of our culture. Barrie wrote a book version, Peter and Wendy, in 1911, and the story first became a musical in 1950 with music by Leonard Bernstein. In 1954, a second musical version appeared with Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook.

More recently actresses Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby have given their portrayals of Peter Pan.

Now, AACC student Ashley Adkins defines the role of Peter Pan, captivating the audience as she flies onto the stage. Adkins' Peter swaggers on stage and flies above it joyously carefree. As athletic as any gymnast, Adkins is a skilled enough actress to convey Peter's vulnerability beneath the swagger, and she belts out her songs in classic Broadway fashion. Her gleeful "I'm Flying," sung as she soars high, is simply magical.

Nicole Anderson is well-cast as Wendy Darling - required to convey an equal blend of patience, warmth and naivete while acting responsibly as the oldest of the Darling children.

Although the Darling family actors are all excellent, second-grader Solon Snider as Michael steals audience hearts in his every scene. As Mr. Darling, George Johnson has a nice combination of warmth and stuffiness, and is even better as a foppish Captain Hook. Johnson provides a comic treat when dancing a tango and tarantella with strong support from Jessica Hyman's romping Smee and the rest of his pirate crew.

Together they are hilarious in a show-stopping "Captain Hook's Waltz."

AACC student Katelyn Linnell is an appealing actress who makes a fine Tiger Lily, dancing up a storm in several rhythmic numbers.

Kudos are due to Darrell Conley, who is a fearful fast-moving Crocodile, and to Peter Moses, who plays the big lovable dog Nana, the Darling family pet.

Peter Pan continues this weekend and next at Pascal Center for the Performing Arts. Reservations: 410-777- 2457.