A male actor taking part in Peter Pan? A Wendy who needs to be a physician? Dialogue within the script about unsolicited mail and pc printers? And maybe most notably, a Native American “tribe” depicted with out purple face or racist stereotypes?
Baltimore audiences are among the many first within the nation to see a brand new stage model of “Peter Pan,” the J. M. Barrie basic that dates from 1904 and opened on Broadway in 1954 as a musical with Mary Martin within the title function and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook. Over the years, Martin was succeeded by different feminine Peter Pans, together with Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby.
Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre is the primary cease of a 48-week nationwide touring manufacturing that’s primarily based on Barrie’s story however has been revised and up to date for the 21st century.
The new manufacturing, which opened on Wednesday on the Hippodrome, retains the songs that audiences love and the common storyline a couple of boy who by no means grows up. But the script has been rewritten to carry the present into the current day and get rid of stereotypes which are insensitive and dangerous, particularly to Native Americans.
Earlier iterations of the musical included a tune referred to as “The Pow Wow Polka,” often known as the “Ugh a wug” tune; actors in purple face taking part in Native Americans; and different characters whose major aim was to kill Native Americans.
The revised script was written by a Native American playwright, Larissa FastHorse. In this manufacturing, Peter Pan is portrayed by a male, Nolan Almeida. Wendy, performed by African-American actress Hawa Kamara, is sweet at stitching like earlier Wendys however needs to be a physician when she grows up. Raye Zaragoza, a lady of Indigenous, Asian and Latina heritage, performs Tiger Lily. Cody Garcia, who’s non-binary, is Captain Hook and Mr. Darling.
The Pow Wow tune has been changed by a brand new one referred to as “Friends Forever.” Tiger Lily’s tribe is now multi-cultural, representing Indigenous peoples from throughout, not simply Native Americans. The Darling family is ready within the current, with a house workplace for Mr. Darling in case he works remotely.
Ron Legler, president of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, dwelling of the Hippodrome, mentioned he had tried to get the producers of “Peter Pan” to make Baltimore their try-out city when the manufacturing was introduced, utilizing a brand new state tax credit score program established to appeal to touring reveals and reveals headed to Broadway. Instead, the producers went with St. Paul, Minnesota, for rehearsals and different preliminary exercise however made Baltimore the primary cease of their nationwide tour.
Legler mentioned he normally will get to see a present on Broadway earlier than a nationwide tour begins and that helps him determine whether or not to carry it to Baltimore, however that wasn’t doable with “Peter Pan.” He mentioned he knew it’s the primary present many individuals noticed as a baby they usually have fond recollections of it. “We discovered worth within the title,” he mentioned. “It’s a treasured title.”
Legler mentioned he wouldn’t name this a “woke” or “politically right” manufacturing, however he does assume audiences will decide up on ways in which sure stereotypes and expressions have been eradicated. He calls it a “non-offensive model.”
The earlier present was beloved by many but additionally “very dated” and “prepared for a brand new model,” he mentioned. “Times have modified. This is telling a narrative that received’t offend anybody.”
Legler mentioned audiences can even see how current advances in know-how are integrated to carry the present to life, particularly in the way in which Peter and others fly throughout the stage and the usage of LED lighting and different particular results.
“Peter Pan” runs on the Hippodrome, 12 N. Eutaw St., via Sunday, Feb. 25. Ticket data is out there at Baltimore.broadway.com; by cellphone at 800-343-3103 on Monday via Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and in particular person on the Hippodrome Box Office, positioned on the nook of Eutaw and Baltimore streets. The field workplace is open Monday via Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on efficiency dates from 11 a.m. to curtain time.
Editor’s word: This article has been up to date to right the capitalization of playwright Larissa FastHorse’s final title.
