Tufts' adaptation of "Peter Pan" promises to be "fun but bittersweet," said director Brendan Shea, a senior. The 3Ps production is a collage, drawing from all interpretations of the famous children's tale, including the Disney movie "Hook" (1991), J.M. Barrie's book and the well known musical. It's quite a few acts to follow, but Shea promises that the timeless story will be "presented in a fresh way."
Shea approaches the show's direction with a wide range of influences, such as band My Bloody Valentine, child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim, and video games (namely, "The Legend of Zelda"). The play will not be intellectual in the sense of political or social commentary, but Shea intends it to be a thought-provoking homage to youth, highlighting the vibrant world of childhood that becomes the mundane one we know as adults.
To Shea, college is Neverland, and he is a Lost Boy preparing to leave it. Despite that bittersweet analogy, the show will not depress; Shea describes "Pan" as "fun and intense," which might be expected from a story with pirates and flying.
Considering that the cast had just less than four weeks of preparation, the intricacy of "Peter Pan"'s characters and universe is something to behold. For example, Neverland's indigenous people have their own language, mythology and ideology; they reference these throughout the play and display them via charming idiosyncrasies. One of the Lost Boys has a tattoo on his ankle of his favorite animal, a lobster.
The quirks do not end there. Shea promised that every time the play is watched, a new detail will be noticed; the style of the performance ensures that no two nights will yield exactly the same play. The sets, costumes and props are similarly elaborate. The Lost Boys, for example, worked on their own costumes to give them more authenticity.
For all its unique, inventive details, this adaptation remains true to Barrie's original work. Some exceptions are the addition of a new surprise character and the removal of a few minor characters. The production features a pointedly androgynous Captain Hook (played by the senior Jessica Bauman, the same actress who plays Mrs. Darling) as well as a "Lost Girl," a character that comments on femininity and the choice of motherhood. Notably, the 3Ps production has changed Neverland's tribe. Shea felt that the original work had a racist portrayal of the group that was "badly in need of updating."
Shea's "dreamlike" production will be much more violent than many previous interpretations; for that reason, he discourages it as a family event. "Every dream has a nightmare part," Shea said.
When asked how the cast felt about the direction the play was taking, Shea casually shouted the question to a Lost Boy on stage, freshman Dan Casey, who said that "the biggest surprise was the shoegazer soundtrack."
The effort the cast put into character development indicates a high level of commitment. "It's going to be awesome," Shea said.
"Peter Pan" graces the Balch Arena Theater from March 1 to March 3 at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. That "shoegazer soundtrack" will also be on sale, with all proceeds being donated to a children's hospital.
