The Harlequin Club
Middle School Fall 2008 Musical
We’re Flying!
Peter Pan
Musical based on the play by James M. Barrie
Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh
Music by Mark Charlap
Additional Music by Jule Styne
Additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
We are pleased to announce that the Middle School Harlequin Club will inaugurate our new Mainstage theatre on the Newtown Square campus with the much-loved musical,Peter Pan. This charming musical offers many featured roles as well as wonderful ensemble opportunities for singing and dancing. Below is a plot synopsis and character descriptions. Auditions will be on September 8, 9, 10 and 11th, with callbacks on the 12th. Please refer to the link to the letter and contract on my webpage for specific rehearsal and audition details.
See you in September!
Plot Synopsis:
Peter Panis the classic play written by James M. Barrie about a boy who refuses to grow up. The play begins in the Darling nursery, where we meet Mr. and Mrs. Darling, their three children Wendy, Michael and John, their nurse Liza and their dog, Nana. Just after tucking the children into bed, Peter Pan magically flies into the nursery in search of his shadow. With this help of his invisible fairy friend Tinker Bell, Peter takes the three children on a magical flight to Neverland. Neverland is the enchanted island where Peter lives with his gang of Lost Boys, and Peter bring Wendy back with him so that she can be their ‘mother’ and tell them stories. Also living on the island are some magical animals; the awful crocodile that is responsible for eating Captain Hook’s hand and leaving him with a hook in its place; the Princess Tiger Lily and her native American tribe; and the terrible Captain Hook and his pirate gang. Captain Hook is determined to capture Peter and Lost Boys. He devises a plan to capture the boys, poison Peter and keep Wendy to be the pirates’ “mother”. Tinker Bell saves Peter from a poisonous end, and in the climatic scene of the play, Peter rescues all the captives and fights Captain Hook to the end. In the end, the Darling children and all the lost boys return home to grow up, as all children except Peter Pan must do.
Character Descriptions:
Wendy Darling: The eldest Darling child, probably about twelve years old. She is a dreamer and storyteller. She is very mature and definitely has a bit of the ‘mother’ in her. She is sensible, organized and very likable. Wendy has solo singing as well as singing in duets and trios. The actor playing this role will fly and needs to be comfortable with that. Also, this actor will need to sign an additional contract committing to additional mandatory flying rehearsals with our professional flying company.
John Darling: The middle Darling child, probably around ten years of age. He loves adventure and enjoys play-acting. He is a good-natured boy. John sings in a trio with his siblings in other group songs. The actor playing this role will fly and needs to be comfortable with that. Also, this actor will need to sign an additional contract committing to additional mandatory flying rehearsals with our professional flying company.
Michael Darling: He is the youngest Darling child, probably about six or seven. He doesn’t like being the youngest, as he never seems to get what he wants. He doesn’t get to play the parts he wants in their play-acting and he is mothered more than he likes by Nana. Michael sings in a trio with his siblings and sings in other group songs. The actor playing this role will fly and needs to be comfortable with that. Also, this actor will need to sign an additional contract committing to additional mandatory flying rehearsals with our professional flying company.
Liza: She is the Darling’s maid. This is a small role. The actress playing this role can be double-cast in a chorus role as well. The actor playing this role needs to be a dancer, as Liza has a dance solo in the musical.
Nana: The Darling’s dog, who also happens to be their Nanny. Nana is a loveable, highly protective dog. The actor playing this role will be in a full dog costume and will perform on hands and knees.
Mrs. Darling: She is very regal, graceful and proper. She is clearly the parent who holds the house together, emotionally. She dotes on her children and loves them dearly. She also is able to deal with the emotional outbursts of her husband. Mrs. Darling has a solo singing part.
Mr. Darling: He is a very proper, organized, no-nonsense man. He likes things in his house to be logical and in order. He cannot tolerate Nana as his children’s nanny and eventually locks her outside on the fateful night of his children’s disappearance.
Peter Pan: This role has traditionally been played by a female, but it can go either way. Peter is full of life and mischief. He is full of himself in a charming sort of way. Wherever Peter goes, adventure follows. The actor playing this role must be a strong singer, as Peter has several solos in this musical. Additionally, this actor needs to be very comfortable moving, as the role is very physical.
Lion: This is a silent, pantomime role and is small. The actor cast in this role will be double cast in a chorus role as well.
Kangaroo: This is a silent, pantomime role and is small. The actor cast in this role will be double cast in a chorus role as well.
Ostrich: This is a silent, pantomime role and is small. The actor cast in this role will be double cast in a chorus role as well.
Slightly: One of the lost boys. He sings a solo in “I Won’t Grow Up” and also sings in group songs.
Tootles: One of the lost boys. He sings a solo in “I Won’t Grow Up” and also sings in group songs.
Curly: One of the lost boys. He sings a solo in “I Won’t Grow Up” and also sings in group songs.
Nibs: One of the lost boys. He sings a solo in “I Won’t Grow Up” and also sings in group songs.
1st Twin: One of the lost boys. He sings a solo in “I Won’t Grow Up” and also sings in group songs.
2nd Twin: One of the lost boys. He sings a solo in “I Won’t Grow Up” and also sings in group songs.
Captain Hook: Captain Hook is an evil, though comic character in the musical. He is the most intelligent member of a motley and truly unintelligent group of pirates, all of whom worship and fear him. Captain Hook is full of charisma and the actor playing this role needs to be able to command the stage with presence. The actor playing this role needs to be a strong singer, as Captain Hook has several solos. The actor in this role should also be comfortable moving, as Captain Hook does some dancing.
Smee: This is Captain Hook’s right hand pirate. He is a bit of a dope and provides lots of the comedy of the show. He is constantly complimenting Hook and trying to please him. Smee sings with the pirate gang.
Crocodile: The actor playing this roll will be in full crocodile costume. This is a non-speaking role. It is likely that we will cast this actor in another chorus role as well.
Tiger Lily: Tiger Lily is the leader of a band of Native Americans living in Neverland. She is brave, proud and smart. The actor playing this role should be very comfortable moving, as Tiger Lily is featured in two dance numbers.
Starkey: One of the pirates. He sings in group songs.
Cecco: One of the pirates. He sings in group songs.
Noodler: One of the pirates. He sings in group songs.
Mullins: One of the pirates. He sings in group songs.
Jukes: One of the pirates. He sings in group songs.
Wendy (grown up): This is a small role at the end of the play. Grown-up Wendy is stately and proper, as her mother was.
Jane: This is grown-up Wendy’s daughter, whom Peter flies away with at the end of the play. She is about twelve years old and is very much the way her mother was when she was that age. The actor in this role will fly and needs to be comfortable with that. Also, this actor will need to sign an additional contract committing to additional mandatory flying rehearsals with our professional flying company.
Pirates: We will be casting additional pirates for the show. These characters will not have individual roles but will be in all pirate scenes. They will sing all group pirate songs.
Indians (Native Americans): These are the members of Tiger Lily’s tribe. These actors need to be good movers and have good rhythm, as they are featured in two terrific dance/movement numbers.
Lost Boys (possible): We may well cast more lost boys for the show, depending on the turn out and the needs of the production.
NOTE: For those wishing to get a better sense of this wonderful musical, I recommend a visit to the library or video store to view a copy of the Broadway version starring Cathy Rigby.