Peter Pan; Goes Wrong

The secret of Peter Pan seems to be that it is not merely a children’s entertainment but a great play in its own right, a memorable theatrical experience, and reflecting on directing this work, I feel that the cast and crew achieved “a memorable theatrical experience” for the audience.

James M. Barrie wrote Peter Pan out of the depths of his memory, experiences growing up with a large family, and own creative personality; as a young boy, he played with his friend’s toy theater, performed improvised dramas for family and friends and was an avid reader of the sensationalized fiction of the day know as Penny Dreadfuls. He also read voraciously with his mother, beginning with Robinson Crusoe and continuing with other adventure stories, including the historical novels of Sir Walter Scott and James Fenimore Cooper, as well as R. M. Ballantyne’s The Coral Island, a tale of shipwrecked sailors and pirates. When the supply of books at the local library and bookshop was exhausted, Barrie began writing his own adventure tales to entertain his mother.

Fast-forward to 2022, and we have Peter Pan Goes Wrong, a play written by Harry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, performed by the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, a version, which ends in ruin, due to amateurism and personal rivalries. It is one thing to produce and direct a play to go right and an altogether more challenging task to have it go wrong (because it still needs to go right if you follow). The realization of the production was due to the commitment of everyone involved; the ensemble actors; the technical crew and the talent & professionalism of the Design department. And I would add a personal thanks to our Principals and Head of School who were on board with us every step of the way.

Te Arohanui