Peter Pan: Lost boy gets urban facelift

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This week, a cast of Union students directed by Union’s senior artist-in-residence, Patsy Culbert, will perform an edgy version of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan.

While Culbert is the writer and director of the show, the entire production is a team effort by many students, faculty, and staff. The production includes set design by Charles Steckler, set construction by Steven Michalek, dance choreography by Marcus Rogers, and fight choreography by William Finlay and Jim deSeve.

Student actors include Ryan Semerad ’13 as Peter Pan; Rachel Magin ’14 as Tinkerbell; Carla Duvall ’14 as Wendy; David Masterson ’14 as Mr. Darling and Hook; Annora Brennan ’11 as Mrs. Darling and Smee; Chris Paine ’12 as John; and Joes Kiernan ’13 as Michael.

If you are expecting a traditional, storybook rendition of Peter Pan, think again. This production is not like the cherished Disney version in which a magical young boy accompanied by his pixie-fairy teaches three young children how to fly and takes them to Never Never Land.

Instead, this take on Peter Pan is “updated, unique and adult,” as described by Ryan Semerad, who plays Peter. He further stated, ”We want people to be a little shocked, a little surprised and to not just fall into the same routine of the magic kid that flies and wears tights.”

One major way that Union’s take on the show differs from traditional versions is that it is set in modern times and the majority of its theatrical elements fall into a modern theme. The set is industrial, the music is modern, the costuming is unexpectedly dark and mature, and the narrative structure adopts post-modern, unconventional elements.

The overall concept of Culbert’s Peter Panis an “urban dreamscape” where young adults are encouraged to reconnect with their inner-child and do something as simple as to play. This theme is especially reinforced through the setting: an abandoned playground that symbolizes the abandonment of youth and a playfulness that accompanies the transition into adulthood.

In a recent interview, Semerad discussed how his character of Peter Pan is different from the one that most of us remember,  “Peter is less childish in this play than usual.  He is naïve as hell and a real live-in-the-moment kind of guy, but he is no way the little boy that he purports to be.”

The character of Hook is also quite distinct in comparison to the rather comical villain in the ‘Disney-esque’ version.  David Materson, who plays his character said, “Though Hook is certainly melodramatic, Patsy [Culbert] and I have worked hard to avoid playing him as a comical caricature. I think the audience will find Hook is much scarier than they are used to.”

The cast of Peter Pan is undoubtedly well prepared for the performance as a typical rehearsal is about three hours long, and each one is completely unique. At every practice, the actors have been trying new things and playing new angles on scenes. Just as the audience will experience something completely different from the norm, the cast and crew has undergone much experimentation as well in order to create such a daring take on the classic children’s story.

If a new and risky experience is not enough to make you interested in seeing the show, it is easy to come to appreciate the incredible talent and effort that has been put into the production. Dave Masterson, who plays Hook and Mr. Darling, assures that, “Everyone involved in the show has worked their butts off to make the magic of Peter Pan come alive and that is going to be palpable when we perform it. You’ll be missing out if you skip this one!”

If you are interested in seeing something different and well done, you are encouraged to see Peter Pan at the Yulman Theater. The production opened yesterday at 7:30 p.m. and runs each night at the same time until Sunday’s last showing at 2 p.m.