Males playing Peter Pan

[nitsua]

Males playing Peter Pan#1

Posted: 12/1/07 at 8:41pm

This may be better suited for the Las Vegas board, but I wanted to ask if anyone has seen a male play Peter Pan before? I'm not talking about the movie, but the musical. What did y'all think?

I had the pleasure of seeing Justin Rodriguez in the role back in October, at the Signature Productions. He was, by far, the best Peter Pan I have ever seen. In the other ones, I never thought the women were actually playing 12 year old boys. Mary Martin, while she was a great singer, wasn't a great actor.

"Writing is like prostitution. First, you do it for love, then you do it for a few friends, and finally you do it for money." ~ Moliere

[Tag]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#2

Posted: 12/1/07 at 9:12pm

Kurt Browning (no joke) is playing Peter right now in a Toronto production. Not the original musical though, a revival of sorts.

[CATSNYrevival]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#2

Posted: 12/1/07 at 10:17pm

I'm not too thrilled with the idea of a guy playing Peter in the Charlap/Leigh musical version. The songs were simply written for a woman to sing. Although, a young boy 9 to 12 with a soprano voice may be able to pull it off. I just have a hard time picturing it. The guy in that picture looks to be in his twenties. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this production. I'm a fan of Cathy Rigby. She's my favorite of the Peters that I have seen. She was able to put joy into the songs and make you believe that you were watching a boy on stage -- though not so much on the DVD with the close ups, but she's still rather endearing.

[Dollypop]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#3

Posted: 12/1/07 at 10:45pm

Robert Johansson played Peter Pan at the Paper Mill Playhouse a few years ago. He was excellent.

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

[thejcm]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#4

Posted: 12/2/07 at 4:29am

Is it the same Justin Rodriguez that played Angel in the first leg of the Non-Eq tour of RENT? If so, that boy's got one of the best, purest, male voices I've heard. I honestly thought they had a woman playing Angel when he'd be singing.

"Who says you can't bend over backwards and eat bugs if you want to? I guess the bugs would probably say you can't do that that, but assuming that they are willing and consenting bugs, then there's no problem. Let's wig out eating bugs." -RuPaul

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#5

Posted: 12/2/07 at 6:46am

Well, a theatre near me is doing it now, and they cast a 55 year old woman as peter pan. The show opened Friday night. Needless to say, she was horrible.

[GHOSTLIGHT2]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#6

Posted: 12/2/07 at 9:01am

First time I saw the musical it was Mary Martin and to say I was unconvinced is a major understatement.
I have seen a few pictures of young-ish Women who go all out to look like Boys...and come pretty close.
As I understand it the wire flying harness is the main reason men haven't played Peter-it squeezes some property bellow the southern hemisphere .
It would probably be better for a late bloomer 12 year old with dynamic talent than a full grown Man, after all Peter remained a boy with belief that He could.
A Man who is clearly a Man would stand out as badly as a 50 year old Woman,it is one of those roles You need to show great restraint and thoughtful consideration when You cast it.

[philcrosby]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#7

Posted: 12/2/07 at 9:54am

IIRC, Ken Jennings has played the musical version, and very successfully.

[CapnHook]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#8

Posted: 12/2/07 at 11:21am

The harness is NOT why males do not play Peter Pan.

One word: TRADITION!

There's many factors going into the reason. Child labor laws, a fully grown woman looks and sound like a boy more so than a fully grown man, etc.

Concerning the Charlap/Leigh musical, the songs were written with Mary Martin in mind. That's why with this musical (along with tradition), a woman is cast.

There are other musical adaptations of the Peter Pan story where a man plays Peter. The music is very much so better suited for a male voice.

Nothing to do with harnesses.

"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

[Unknown User]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#9

Posted: 12/2/07 at 11:34am

Didn't BD Wong play Peter Pan at some point?

[Pippin]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#10

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:06pm

Michael Longoria played the role in a new version called "Peter Pan and Wendy" at the Prince Music Theater about 5 years ago.

"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."

[Neverandy]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#11

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:41pm

This guy plays Peter Pan daily!

http://pixyland.org/peterpan/

Other than that, did you enjoy the play Mrs Lincoln?

[JulianHookbucks]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#12

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:47pm

oh dear...

well... at least he gives to charity!

that's a really big mic...

[adamgreer]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#13

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:54pm

Oh my.

[nomdeplume]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#14

Posted: 12/2/07 at 12:58pm

Is there no end to male Peter Pans?

It's a syndrome.

From this thread you'd think there was a shortage.

[candydog2]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#15

Posted: 12/2/07 at 1:55pm

That website was very... erm... well... I didn't like his hair much - but he does look young for 53.

There are far stranger lifestyles out there though - and at least he's happy.

Weird, but happy...

[artsamore]

re: Males playing Peter Pan#16

Posted: 12/2/07 at 2:18pm

Yeah I too am really over the "traditional" casting of a woman as Peter Pan. It always takes me out of it because I always know that I am watching a woman. It is very hard to believe in the BOY who never grows up when I am watching a lady play the part.