Peter Pan. We all know the story:In stifling Edwardian London, Wendy Darling mesmerizes her brothers every night with bedtime tales of swordplay, swashbuckling and the fearsome Captain Hook. But the children become the heroes of an even greater story, when Peter Pan flies into their nursery one night and leads them over moonlit rooftops through a galaxy of stars and to the lush jungles of Neverland. Wendy and her brothers join Peter and the Lost Boys in an exhilarating life--free of grown-up rules--while also facing the inevitable showdown with Hook and his bloodthirsty pirates.
Sounds fantastic, right? I find the whole thing to be quite tragic. Mr. & Mrs. Darling are alerted to commotion in the nursery by Nana (the dog) just as the children fly out of the window. It would be delightful to report that they reached the nursery in time... but then, there would be no story.
Peter, the poster child for narcissism and immaturity, leads a life fitting to his wishes. But there are some things about the boy that I do not understand. Why mustn’t he be touched? Why is he seemingly incapable of love? It is obvious that he is seeking love, albeit passively. Wendy, I believe, does fall in love with Peter. In the process she realizes that she must return home…to grow-up.
Wendy, John, Michael, and all the Lost Boys return to the Darling residence. The Lost Boys couldn’t be more excited to be adopted by the Darlings. Peter watches the joyful interactions from outside the window. Wendy rushes to the window where Peter assures her that he will never forget her and they shall see each other again.
But she was never to see Peter Pan again. Now, Wendy tells his story to her children and they will tell it to their children, and so it will go on - for all children grow up... Except one. This is one story that brings tears to my eyes every time. No, there is no happy ending in Never Land.
However, the Olney Central College production of Peter Pan is fantastic. It is running through next weekend and I highly recommend that you attend. For tickets and information call 618-395-7777.
They Fly!!!
They Fly!!!
3 comments:
Very good!
Pan is a tragic character in that in his quest for eternal youth and freedom he finds isolation and loneliness. But how many people do you know who do the exact same thing?
Ugh. I am so glad I did not read this prior to seeing the show with you the other night. SOooooooo depressing. Poor Peter. Maybe it was a lesson for little girls and boys that they have to grow up and be responsible otherwise they'll never know love or touch or connectedness? The children's stories from my childhood, looking back, are frightening.
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