By Michelle Kinsey—
MUNCIE, Ind.—“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” Muncie Civic Theatre invites audiences into the magical world of “Peter Pan” in April.
The J.M. Barrie classic will take the main stage April 15-16, and 21-24. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Saturday and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:30 p.m. The Sensory-Friendly Matinee will begin at 2:30 p.m. April 16.
“’Peter Pan is a really special show – classic characters and songs that appeal to multiple generations,” said the show’s director and Civic’s Executive Director Laura Williamson. “Some people remember it from the popular Mary Martin television special and from the Disney cartoon, from the 1950s. The movie ‘Hook’ from the 1990s starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman reinvented the story to a new generation. And former Olympian, Cathy Rigby, re-imagined the musical for stage in the early 2000s. And there’s also the ‘Finding Neverland’ movie and musical that have brought JM Barrie’s story and the making of Peter Pan to life. The story keeps finding new footing with children and teens who find the ‘Never Grow Up’ mantra appealing.”
Leading this cast will be Rachel Replogle as Peter Pan and Stuart Cotton as Captain Hook.
“Rachel brings an authentic spirit of playfulness while capturing the heart of the boyish Peter Pan and Stuart’s Hook is the quintessential Vaudevillian villain,” Williamson said. “It’s been a joy to work with them both!”
This is Cotton’s first production with Civic. A friend suggested he would be a good fit for Hook. “I’ve always been good with voices,” he said. “One of the many fun aspects of playing Hook is that I get to delve into a wide range of vocal expressions,” he said.
He added that he’s also been able to “stretch my imagination and approach to acting in fun ways. It’s fun to find new interesting ways to say the same old interesting line. I have also enjoyed being part of a large team that works together with the purpose of entertaining our community.”
And, fun fact, he made his own hook with the 3-D printer at Connection Corner, where he works as a digital mentor.
Replogle, a Civic veteran, said she wanted “to audition for Peter Pan because it has been a dream of mine for a long time to be Peter.”
“I remember seeing the show when Muncie Civic performed it several years back, and feeling a deep longing in my heart to be this scruffy, charismatic young boy who everyone found so mysterious and magical,” she continued. “Also I really freaking wanted to fly.”
In addition to the flying, she said the best part of this show “has been working with young people.”
“There are many middle and high schoolers in this show, and they are all living such authentic, beautiful lives,” she said. “Seeing them speak kindly about themselves, express their feelings, and do so many things I didn’t have the tools for at that age has been so inspiring to me. It’s really hard to be a young person right now, but these folks make me excited for the future.”
She also noted the importance of bringing a “queer perspective to Peter Pan. Many of my fellow cast mates are queer, and it has been such a healing experience for me to be in a positive, playful environment with such a diverse group of people.”
For Williamson, she’s found “the story of the creation of the play as fascinating as the story itself, maybe more so.”
“It is steeped heavily in sadness and loss,” she explained in her director’s note for the production’s program. “The shadow of the ticking clock of the murderous crocodile is around every corner and on every page of its history. To me, the play is less about the rejection of growing up and more about the sweetness of childhood, and when afforded the opportunity, how those memories will strengthen and guide our adult lives. The play is hilarious and sad, and like Peter Pan, heroic and tragic. It is, to me, a fairly accurate picture of the constant duality of life that we experience on planet Earth, and all of the adventures it offers us while we are here.”
Presenting “Peter Pan” in 2022 has not been without its challenges.
“The challenge of producing this play in 2022, is to move completely away from any references to the original concept of the Neverland Natives being portraying as Native Americans,” Williamson said. “We’ve made alterations including costumes, mono-syllabic language, and the use of drums. Our Neverland Natives reflect the plant life of the island. Cast member SteVen Knipp presented the idea of taking our clue from the name ‘Tiger Lily.’ We entered into this aspect of the show carefully and thoughtfully.”
Cotton hopes this production offers and entertaining evening and more.
“Most of all, I want the audience to experience enjoyment,” he said. “But also, I hope people see it and sense another level of just how cool and creative a place Muncie really is. I can’t think of anyone that wouldn’t enjoy this production. It’s got everything for everyone.”
For tickets or more information, call 288-PLAY or go to www.munciecivic.org.
Show made possible through support by
WLBC
Thrive Credit Union
Morrison Woods Health Campus
MITS Bus
Wilhoite Family Dental
Steven Prybylla Realtor
Katy Combs Shelter Insurance