OK, here is the deal with PETER PAN:
Yes, J.M. Barrie, the author of the play first produced in 1904, had wanted Nina Bouicault to play "Peter." He also approved of Maude Adams playing "Peter" in his play when Charles Frohman (the producer) took it to Broadway in 1905.
Through the years, it was traditionally played by women. ALL professional productions in the United States and in the UK until the '80s have had female actors play "Peter Pan." The first professional production to have a male play Peter was in the Royal Shakespeare Company's UK production in 1984 I believe. I need to re-check that date.
In 1951, Leonard Bernstein's musical production of PETER PAN premiered on Broadway, starring Jean Arthur as "Peter." In 1954, Mary Martin starred in another new musical version - the one most produced today, including songs "I'm Flying," "I Gotta Crow" and "Never Neverland."
In 1976, another new television musical version was done, starring Mia Farrow. This was only aired once and never again, because it was AWFUL.
EVEN TODAY, after over a dozen revivals to Broadway in the last 100 years, a male actor has never played "Peter."
And there is your history lesson for today.
"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