PETER PAN flies again as television musical. — Page 4

The summer theatre program in our town is currently doing Peter Pan, with a mid twenties male in the role of Peter. Personally, I don't like Peter to be a guy. I think I may be biased because I've adored the Mary Martin version ever since I could talk, but in my opinion it just doesn't work. I mean, how ironic is this guy singing "I Won't Grow Up" in this deep, manly voice? I don't think so... maybe I'm just bitter because the guy sucks.

its tradition in theater for Peter pan to be a girl tho! Peter pan is not supposed to be realistic! I'd rather see a forty year old woman as an amazing peter pan that can really dance and sing the songs compared to a guy whois just ok
the songs were written for a woman peter pan to sing!

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I don't think they mean they are doing a contemporary version of PETER PAN, as in setting it modern day and trying to make that Jule Styne score sound modern. From the press release, it sounds to me like they are updating the script in the same way they udpated the script for the recent film version: making it a little more hip for kids today but keeping the period feel and the spirit of the original.

A 17 year old girl in Victorian England would likely be married. And she is not supposed to be "almost" an adult. I'm not sure where you got that...

The score was not written by only Styne, Comden and Green. I believe it was Charlap and Leigh (obviously I could be exactly sure by checking the Internet Broadway DataBase.)who were first working on the score.

As Comden and Green talk about in their show, and subsequent CD (of a revival of the show,) 'A Party with Comden and Green,' they along with Jule Styne were called in to help while Peter Pan was doing its out of town try outs. Green said "there is nothing more secretly delicious than being called in to help on SOMEBODY ELSE'S show."

A boy playing Peter in this musical as written? Only with some significant changes. The song, I believe the title is 'Mysterious Lady,' was written certainly for a woman to sing as Styne, Comden and Green knew that Mary Martin had a not often used lovely coloratura (soprano range) voice. In the scene Peter Pan is trying to fool Captain Hook into thinking that Peter is a lady.
I suspect that the most likely Peter Pan will be Cheno, with Captain Hook most likely played by Victor Garber. However, Nathan Lane or Kelsey Grammer will likely be thought of as well.
Other potential Peter Pans are plentiful:
Anne Hathaway
Lisa Kudrow
Jenna Elfman
Jane Krakowski (sp?)
Emmy Rossum

It will be good to bring this lovely show to a new generation of television audiences. I hope they use the original Jerome Robbins staged first act flying sequence. It is always breathtaking to see, especially in a live theater. But, I grew up seeing it on television, and it was pretty exciting there too. Enjoy the show everyone!

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Updated On: 7/29/06 at 09:38 AM

WISHIHADATONY,

Kristin Chenoweth? Nathan Lane? HAH! All of your casting suggestions (with the exceptions of Garber and Grammer) are LAUGHABLE. You can't just choose young-looking actresses (who may or may not be able to sing) who look elfish.

Here is a far fetched notion...Johnny Depp as Hook. Although it would never happen for obvious reasons, I'd love to see how he would approach the character.

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I think the key to casting this is going to be trying to find the most real looking children who are able to handle the material.

Certainly, casting a young boy is ideal, as well as a young Wendy-- and I hope that they do. However, the "children" in the show are not simple personifications of youth, as people tend to see them. In fact, these children are plagued with mature issues. I have found that Peter Pan is hardly "carefree" but rather consumed by responsibility... not unlike Wendy. Peter leads an untidy troupe as a father figure, whereas Wendy lords it over her two brothers. Both provide the underlings with a sense of security.

So, when the show is performed by adults, these actors are able to draw from their own life experiences to convey these complex emotions. I feel that there are very few children in the world who would be able to meet the material with as much maturity as would be required. But while I believe there are very FEW children who could meet the challenge, I know that there are some and I hope that they find them.

It is odd to say that Peter Pan is more like an adult than a child, but I find that to be true in the musical adaptation. The irony is that he's really quite grown up, whether he wants to admit it or not... he just has a problem with authority. That's what I think.

I am really excited about this. I hope they don't modernize this production. It is perfect just the way it is. I hope they do the Cathy Rigby version without Cathy Rigby. She was great on stage but they need a new face. I don't want to see mysterious lady, that is a horrible song. And dancing animals should be no where near this show.

SMiller

well i think considering they have to cast a male they can't do mysterious lady, that's one of my least favorite numbers along with the lulabye peter sings. they can do away with those two songs or if they keep the lulabye have wendy sing it.

Wendy sings most of it in the Rigby production, but Peter sings some of it with her. There are actually some very nice harmonies when they're dueting.

Cathy Rigby is hardly an old woman. She's in her early 50's-- she's not even qualified for the Early Bird special at Denny's, let alone the title of "old woman."

Good question. I'll see what I can find out...

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Says IMDB, or a reputable source?

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