<p>It would have to be a very young boy…probably under 13 years old…without a changed voice. </p>
<p>Sorry, it’s a very large role for a 12 year old. It’s the whole show.</p>
<p>I have absolutely no trouble,with this role being cast with a woman.</p>
<p>Now…Hook…I think he is supposed to be sort of “campy”. It doesn’t sound like this Hook was.</p>
<p>I watched the show today since I was out last night, mostly because I’ve never seen Peter Pan on the stage before. I have to say, it was never a particularly drawing story for me; I never liked it, so I was hoping to get my mind changed last night by watching a live version. Didn’t happen.</p>
<p>But I will say, I do think the Williams was better in her role, than Underwood was in hers last year. Maybe NBC needs to keep tweaking it and eventually it will get better.</p>
<p>This all being said, I’ve come to the conclusion that NBC airs these shows for people who, for one reason or another, can’t make it to Broadway, or even a Broadway tour in their closest major city. They have not seen enough professional live shows to judge good caliber performances, so those people likely very much enjoyed these productions; they don’t have anything to really compare it to. And if that gets them interested in learning more about seeing other musical productions, then all is good. </p>
<p>I watched it last night and we recorded it, so tonight we started watching it with our 5 year old grandson. He loves it so far, and we will have a delightful morning finishing watching. I am sorry so many of you have such disdain for this production…I thought it was pretty delightful.</p>
<p>And, yes, I have been to quite a few Broadway shows so I do have the ability to “judge good caliber performances”. Thank you. My opinion just happens to differ from quite a few on this site. No big surprise there. </p>
<p>Dating back to the original dramatic production in London in 1905, the role of Peter Pan has always been played by a woman because as I just read in New York Magazine, the harness used at that time was not strong enough to support the weight of a male. The first filmed production of Peter Pan, an early silent film had a woman cast in the role. So the production we are familiar with is the Jerome Robbins version. Actually there was a previous Broadway production with music by Leonard Bernstein in which Boris Karloff was cast as Hook…</p>
<p>So… nothing in my mind will ever replace the Mary Martin/Cyril Ritchard version I grew up with and when it was on TV once a year, it was a big event. I have the original cast LP that I bought when older d was a baby and we used to play it on our turntable (still works today) and so I might have to dig it up and play it. With that, the disappointment for me was Christopher Walken, an actor I totally admire who seemed to be totally phoning in it and looking extremely bored. He actually was more lively when he danced and he does have a dance background. The choreography was good, I always enjoy seeing Christian Borle and Kelly O’Hara. As for Allison Williams I can’t say I was totally unimpressed. She does not have a strong voice and vocally the songs/score can be challenging. She did seem engaging in the role and taking a big risk because if she were totally dreadful, her career could certainly be heading in a different direction. If NBC plans to continue with live performances, why not perform in front of a live audience? I did not watch last year’s Sound of Music as it was painful to think of Carrie Underwood as Maria but I did watch the entire production. Other than Christopher Walken, I have to say that I wasn’t impressed at all with the young woman cast as Wendy. The lost boys and pirates all are Broadway perfomers and accomplished dancers.</p>
<p>While it’s not my favorite story, I thought they most of them did a great job with it. Christopher Walken was kind of odd, (what was up with those commercials of him holding a note?) but I enjoyed Allison’s performance. </p>
<p>Did anyone watch NBC Nightly News just before the show? There was a 10 minutes story on Alison Williams and how she wanted to do this role since she was a little girl. Lester Holt said something along the lines of watching ‘this little girl from CT realize her dreams’… oh come on!
I guess it helps when dad is the anchor for the national nightly news program!</p>
<p>After bowing out at the start of the second hour, I came back for the last scene, which I always think is quite poignant, and at least that scene didn’t disappoint. A tear may have escaped…</p>
<p>For those who have commented that it was necessary to cast big names instead of Broadway vets in the main roles, I have to ask why anyone would think Allison Williams is a big name? While “Girls” is a critical darling with a strong fan base (including me), like so many HBO shows, it is watched by a relatively tiny number of people. I doubt most of those who watched Peter Pan had a clue who she was and certainly didn’t turn it on because she was a big draw. And while Walken has his fans, he’s become a caricature of himself in recent years, and I don’t believe for a second that his presence made for better ratings. So I find the casting of Peter and Hook to be beyond puzzling and still believe that not putting true pros with great voices and stage presence into these productions is a disservice to the audience and to the Broadway community. Musicals are so much better than what NBC has given us last year and this year. If I were considering attending my first professional musical theater production, Broadway or touring company, these two shows would convince me that there are better ways to spend my money.</p>
<p>If you haven’t watched Peter Pan Live! yet, try reading the Fug Girls hilarious recap (with photos and clips) as an infinitely more entertaining alternative:
<a href=“Fug the Fromage: Peter Pan Live on NBC - Go Fug Yourself”>Fug the Fromage: Peter Pan Live on NBC - Go Fug Yourself;
<p>“Most” kids, or adults, have never had the opportunity to see a live, Broadway production. Why bash this one? I am sure it was entertaining to people who are not theatre snobs. </p>
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<p>What role would she have played in Peter Pan? </p>
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<p>I get that people like different things but I don’t understand the bashing either, and although I’ve seen probably every show on Broadway, off-Broadway and regionally for the past 30 years, I don’t consider myself a theatre snob. I don’t see the critical bashing happening on a regular basis with any of the dreck that exists on tv these days. These special live shows are difficult to produce for many reasons, and they’re never going to be perfect. They’re never going to be cast to everyone’s satisfaction, because the need for ‘names’ is a strong influence, from advertisers. Not everyone is interested in watching something like this, and not everyone is expected to be. Those who don’t like theatre can easily switch the channel to watch steroid-filled men violently assault each other on the football field. Now, if that isn’t fun, I don’t know what is! ;)</p>
<p>A number of years ago, probably 20, the Mary Martin Peter Pan show aired on TV. Our kids were young, and had not seen the Disney animated version. We all watched together. The kids absolutely LOVED it. DH and I (both involved in theater for years…and even with a live production of Peter Pan) thought it looked like a bad community theater production…from the sets and costumes, right down to the fly “wires” which were very visible to the adults (but not the kids).</p>
<p>It’s the magic of the story that matters…and regardless of the quality of the production, it still has a magic piece to it. The songs are engaging…and it’s about kids.</p>
<p>My kids loved that Mary Martin version…as did DH and I when we were kids and watched it every year. </p>
<p>We will find a recorded version from some friend and watch this Peter Pan Live as a family over the holidays. I’m sure we will all like it.</p>
<p>And we have been to plenty of Broadway shows…on and off Broadway, and have participated from both on and off stage.</p>
<p>I watched a few clips to try to find the kid we know and thought the production was cute. I admit to being distracted by Allison Williams’ overwhitened teeth, though.</p>
<p>BINGO @thumper . It is the magic of the story that matters. If anyone’s interested, the bittersweet movie “Finding Neverland”, about James Barrie and the first production, captures the magic perfectly.</p>
<p><a href=“The play and Neverland scene - Finding Neverland in 720p HD - YouTube”>The play and Neverland scene - Finding Neverland in 720p HD - YouTube;
BTW @bookmama22 despite what the NY Magazine says ,the harness is a partial reason, but does not come even close to being the primary reason. More often than not adolescent boys were played by women in the 19th and early 20th centurys. Add music to the early production and the choice to cast a woman becomes even more logical. </p>
<p>I can’t even believe they spent 10 minutes of a national news show promoting a musical starring the anchor’s daughter.</p>
<p>Well, to be fair, I’ll bet NBC spent a lot of time promoting The Sound of Music last year the week it aired (unless there were other significant news stories happening, which I can’t remember). It wasn’t just an NBC anchor’s daughter; it was NBC. Why would you expect anything different? NBC is going to promote their very huge, perhaps most widely-anticipated live production of the year at a time spot where lots of people are watching. </p>
<p>Uhm, because it’s called a news show and what is on TV next is a somewhat strange new definition of news, but okay.</p>
<p>Oh please Marie1234. It was NBC…the Peter Pan show was NBC.</p>
<p>And isn’t it nice that they allowed a parent to mention their kid’s show. Note, Brian Williams did not promote his kid…he promoted the show. </p>
<p>^ oh please, Marie. They always end their news broadcasts with feel good piece. </p>
<p>marie, you don’t have kids, do you? </p>
<p>Every daily news show I have ever seen has always done fluff pieces. Usually at least one every newscast. </p>