The familiar story is of a boy who never grew up – and it’s being presented to people who have yet to grow up and those who already have.
An abridged version of the Peter Pan tale, created in 1904 by Sir James M. Barrie (ironic, don’t you think?), hits the Georgian Theatre early next month, appealing to all ages, and only an hour long.
Kempenfelt Community Players (KCP) are putting on Peter Pan Jr., and Andree Day, the show’s executive producer, says the score by Broadway musical giants Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Morris Charlap says the appeal of the Pan story is really no mystery.
It’s “the magic of Peter Pan,” Day tells BarrieToday. “Not wanting to grow up, flying, the fairies, the innocence of the Darling children, adventure – it is a child’s imagination.”
Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, visit the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget.
“In the adventure of a lifetime,” the KCP site tells us, “the travelers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, brave girls, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook,” which kids in the audience should have no trouble booing.
But everything builds to the music – songs like Never Never Land, and I’m Flying – tunes Day says all and sundry take home with them.
“We all hum along and keep humming these songs for quite awhile even after the performances have been done – songs get stuck in your head – and, yes, it is everyone involved in the show, production team members not just the cast.”
And it’s a big cast – 57 in all, ranging in age from nine to 17, with a number of adults who’ve done previous KCP shows.
“They all bring something different to the shows either by their singing, acting or dancing depending on where their strengths are.”
There are school matinees – Nov. 7 through 10 at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – offering children “who may not otherwise be able to see a live musical performance a chance to see one.” Evening performances are offered Friday through Sunday, Nov. 10 through 12, with a Saturday matinee on Nov. 11.
Says Day, “We hope they go away singing and that they have spent an hour being young again.”
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