Raleigh Little Theatre Preview
By Robert McDowell

This musical version of J. M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan” features
a book by Timothy Mason and music by Hiram Titus

Raleigh Little Theatre will present a new musical version of British author J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s story, Peter Pan, adapted for the stage in 1997 by Timothy Mason, with music by Hiram Titus, on April 11-13, 17-20, and 24-27 in its Cantey V. Sutton Theatre. RLT youth theater and education director Linda O’Day Young will stage the show with the assistance of choreographer Julie Mulvihill and musical director Mary Kathryn Walston.

“Musicals are always a challenge,” claims Young, “what with music rehearsals and dance rehearsals. Add to this, stage combat rehearsals and flying rehearsals; and it becomes quite a challenge to squeeze in time for blocking and character work. But the cast has been fabulously enthusiastic and has met the challenge with gusto.”

She adds, “I first read this version of Peter Pan about two years ago. I had directed the J.M. Barrie script for Applause! Cary Youth Theatre in 2001, and had wanted to do it again with music. Although the musical adaptation featuring Mary Martin as Peter is a classic, and I loved it when I was young; I was never fond of the portrayal of Native Americans.

“When I read Timothy Mason’s adaptation,” Young says, “I was very excited about the character of Tiger Lily [played at RLT by Brooke Quintana] and her brothers, Big Panther [Michael ‘Mick’ Williams] and Little Big Panther [Clayton Brown]. Tiger Lily is strong, assertive, and intelligent. She and her brothers have magical powers stemming from their close relationship with the Earth and the animals which dwell there.”

Linda Young says, “The other enticing quality of this version is that Peter [Joey Osuna] is a boy! And I mean a real boy, not a woman portraying a boy. I felt that a young actor could bring so much more honesty and emotional connection to the role of Peter.”

Others in the RLT cast include Scotty Cherryholmes as Capt. James Hook, Timothy Cherry as Smee, Lauren Neely as Wendy Darling, Trey Lower and Bailey Hart as John and Michael Darling, John Demers and Rebecca Leonard as Mr. and Mrs. Darling, and Faegan Young as Nana/Croc.

In addition to director Linda O’Day Young, choreographer Julie Mulvihill, and musical director Mary Kathryn Walston, the show’s creative team includes technical director Jim Zervas, fight choreographer David McClutchey, set designer Rick Young, lighting designer Nicholas Kunstle, costume designer Vicki Olson, properties master Scott Wray, and sound designer and stage manager Becca Easley. Peter Pan will also feature “flight” by Hall Associates.

Young says, “The set is whimsical. The world of Neverland and the characters who live there spring from the imagination of the Lost Boys. In the imagination, anything can happen. Trees with faces can be purple or lime green or any color you want, boulders surrounding Marooner’s rock can include a bust of Pericles, and planets can seem so near you can almost touch them. Note the set designer’s fancy in choosing Pericles, a statesman known for promoting the arts and theater in Athens.”

She adds, “The lighting is saturated and bold. There is nothing subtle about Neverland…. The costumes are a playful mixture of realism and fantasy.”

Linda O’Day Young says, “In my vision, the characters in Neverland are the creation of the boy, Peter Pan. As a result Hook [Scotty Cherryholmes] and the pirates, though cruel and cunning and mean, are also, at times, babies or imbeciles. The grown men are easily defeated by the Lost Boys. After all, it’s all a part of the game. All play the game well except for Hook, whose basic flaw is that he doesn’t know how to play. He never did.”

She adds, “Hook, the man who was never allowed to be a boy, must destroy that which he despises, youth, joy, Peter Pan!”

Raleigh Little Theatre presents Peter Pan Friday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, April 12-13, at 2 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, April 17-18, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, April 19-20, at 2 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, April 24-25, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 26, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m. in RLT’s Cantey V. Sutton Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh, North Carolina. $15 ($8 children). 919/821-3111 or etix.com. NOTE: All shows are wheelchair accessible, and assistive listening devices are always available. RALEIGH LITTLE THEATRE: http://www.raleighlittletheatre.org/performances/07-08/peterpan.html.

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