Few things can bring people together in this day and time. With all the negatives of life bombarding us constantly, the rigors and demands of careers that barely pay the bills, and the utter “busy-ness” of day-to-day life, we have lost some togetherness.
What can bring us together like youth? Furthermore, what brings us together better than entertainment?
Garrett Memorial Christian School’s Fine Arts Department presented Peter Pan Junior. on Friday March 20th at Hempstead Hall, and I have to say I’m impressed.
Not that what impresses me is all that important but let’s put that aside for the moment, because this isn’t about me in the least. It’s about these talented kids and adults that brought a beautiful production to life right in front of a packed theatre.
From the opening moments of the show, the audience was treated with fantastic set pieces. Throughout the entire production the stage looked amazing. The transitions were quick and efficient, which is an amazing thing for young people to do, considering it’s done in almost pitch-black darkness.
Allow me to take a moment to shout out the stage crew of Oakley Richards, Gage Sanders, AJ Daniels,Chase Sundberg, Kason Flowers, Dillon Miller, Levi Burns and Matthew Garcia along with Stage Managers Olivia Butler, and Kylie Revels, not to mention sound Tech Ella Eskridge. This is a part of production that is often overlooked, and I wanted to be sure to give them their flowers. Fantastic job, guys and gals!
From there, those in attendance were treated to a whimsical and playful musical version of a beloved classic. Baylee Pogue as Peter Pan and her counterpart Rose Eskridge playing the shadow looked wonderful as they moved in sync. They hit their marks together and gave a performance that allowed the mind to actually see a shadow rather than a person.
While I’m the subject of hitting their marks, the cast was a wide range of students from third grade on up and everyone from the youngest to the oldest appeared to hit every mark just right. They hit their lines with only one little bobble toward the end that didn’t take anything away from how enjoyable it was. If anything it made the whole thing even more endearing.
Mattie Rogers as Tinker Bell had just the right “attitude” for the character that kept the audience smiling the whole time. Miley Loe as Wendy, Carson Vines as John, and Oliver Rodriquez as Michael looked and sounded so much the part that they might’ve been pulled right off the screen from the Disney classic. Kylie Bullock as Nanna was doggone good in the role as well. The duo of Silbi Jones as Captain Hook and Katie Holland as Smee chewed up the scenery and were absolutely entertaining to watch.
There is so much to be said about all these young people. So much to be said about everyone involved. From set design and wardrobe to vocals and sound, it was a wonderful play.
Even more, seeing the fellowship of families before and after the show reminded me that people are at their most beautiful, their most creative, their strongest when we are together simply supporting one another.
One of the parents I spoke to said “This is our favorite night of the year.” What a wonderful sentiment. We can come together in fellowship to celebrate the talents of others and be entertained. I think we could all get behind that. Don’t you?
Freddie Parks Jr. is the author of Stephanie Spider-hands, The Rez-o-lute Society, Zoe's Story, Homer Allen, Little Drop of Poison and other books, all available at Amazon.