From time to time, everyone needs a little trip to Neverland. A place where there is adventure, fantasy, and we never get old. The Young People's Theater Company took adults and children alike away from their troubles and transported them to the land of pirates, mermaids, and of course Peter Pan on August 2-4.
The Young People's Theater Company, in collaboration with Michigan City Area Schools, presented Peter Pan at the Elston Performing Arts Center. This mystical production was directed by Stan Holdcraft; he previously directed a Peter Pan production in 1986 and 1995, and his experience with the play shines through.
The sets were a delight to the eyes and felt straight out of the movie. The play switched between the Darlings' cozy London nursery to the wildly beautiful Neverland. But the well built sets were not the only part of the grand illusion. The costumes were elaborate and exact from John's nightgown and top hat to Captain Hook's overdone garb. A favorite of the play was the beloved Darling dog Nana-who took the stage in a full on furry dog costume complete with a floral bonnet.
But such a well produced performance does not come without hard work from both cast and crew. Auditions were in May, and from then on the dedicated group began the long journey of learning lines, blocking, developing characters, and for some flying 101-but more on that later.
Jake Burns, who helped with the production, said, "I was in the shows during middle school and just always helped out. It was an excellent experience. I've loved helping out and witnessing how well the cast does, and of course, how much they have grown into their parts!"
At the start of the play everyone had one question on their mind-will the actors fly. Peter Pan, Wendy, Michael, John, and Jane all take flight in the book and movie. But would a local production be able to pull of their flight? The audience quickly received their answer-of couse. Using a special contraption the five actors soared through the air with whimsy and ease. As the Darling children and Peter rose into the air, so did the audiences hopes and joy.
The whole production was a magical affair. For a few hours it was a beautiful escape executed by talented actors from ages 13 to 20. When the curtains rose and the cast took their bows, the audience gave a thunderous applause. The cast and crew did a remarkable job coming together to bring out the child in all, and proved no one is too old to take a little trip to Neverland.
The Young People's Theatre Company is a non-profit group dedicated to uniting young theatre lovers. The group works to promote their actors talents and cultivate their love of acting. This summer the theatre took on the Disney classics The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. Keep your eyes open for auditions for future productions. For more information click here to visit The Young People's Theatre Company's website.