Peter Pan Live, Part 1: When Peter met Wendy

Peter Pan Live, Part 1- the 2014 Holiday Extravaganza on NBC

By Me and My Shadow

My son and I sat down Friday night to check out the newest holiday "classic" that we missed watching LIVE the night before on NBC. His observations are mixed in with the following synopsis.

It opens with a long, smooth pan shot (pun intended) of the rooftops of Victorian London homes, as if we were flying into the unlocked windows of the Darling home's 3^rd floor ourselves. Well, we can't very well enter by the front door. There's no set for that. It's snowing outside and the exterior and interiors are decked out in pine and holly for the yule season. 

ACT I

The Darling Nursery Room, London

In the nursery room are three twin beds, fancy dressers and rugs atop rugs, because the bugs need to go under them and warm up. The "almost a grown up" daughter is Wendy (played by the daughter of Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks).

               Wendy                           Wendy's Real Mother

Her younger brothers are the stodgy John, who supposedly dislikes her but practices dancing with her, and the oh so adorable Michael, who still carries a teddy bear around at the age of 8, or whatever he is. They don't say much, just smile and look cute.

See what a brat the little one is?

Then their fancy pants parents come in to say goodnight before they go out to their fancy dress dinner party. There's a real dog named Nana who's the only governess, disciplinarian and protector of the children, as the parents are too busy. Conveniently, the dog pounces on the stuffy father who orders it out of the room, despite the mother's pleas to keep it in there. She explains in private that she wants it in the room for security.

Mother: I've seen a boy's face against the window.

Father: Poppycock. You're dreaming, you looney woman.

Mother: And there's a ball of light as big as your hand that flies around. When the boy left, Nana closed the shutters and we caught the shadow, so I put it in the dresser. I think he's coming back for it.

Father: Why not hang it out the window?

Mother: What would the neighbors think?
Father: Oh, no worse than the fantasy of a flying boy and twinkle hanging out of the window!
Father: Wait. How did the dog close the shutters?

Husband patronizes "dreaming" Wife

So, the self-proclaimed “Master of the House” decides to ban the dog anyway. The submissive mother goes into the nursery to tuck the little ones into bed. They are saddened that she lost the argument. 

Wendy's "Surprised" Face

Mother: “Night lights are a mother's eyes to watch over her children.”

This begs the question: Does she have multiple eyes? She kind of needs those for this to be true. In her mind, if the lights are on, then surely a young stalker can't possibly come in the unlocked bay window. So, she leads the children in a lullaby-in-the-round about counting sheep. While Wendy is sleeping, the makeup artists under the bed penciled in her brows some more.

Song – Tender Shepherd

Immediately after the hapless mother exits, Tink slips under the window, then all around the room, looking for the shadow.

Tink, the Light-up Fairy

Peter arrives (played by the daughter of Hilary Swank and NBC anchor Brian Williams), blowing open the window and landing gently in the dark room. He finds his shadow in a drawer and tries to get it to stick to him, using a bar of soap rubbed on. We all know that soap is the best glue there is, but it's not working for some reason. Wendy is awoken and accuses him of crying, which he denies, cuz boys don't cry. Just ask Robert Smith of The Cure. Oooh, or like in that movie, Boys Don't Cry, where a girl adopts a male identity and is close with a girl .... hmmm.

Wendy and Peter

Yup, looks like Wendy and Peter to me

They introduce themselves and Wendy falls instantly madly in love with him. But they hear a noise in the hall and go to investigate it.

Peter: Don't worry, you're safe with me.
Wendy: Why would I worry? I just met you!

They open the hall closet to find the lifeless form of the maid, who has obviously been murdered; it's the only explanation. By whom is irrelevant. Unless you are playing the game Clue while you watch this.

I say it was Mr. Green in the Hallway with the lead pipe

Nevertheless, they think she is asleep and continue back to the nursery room. 

Wendy: Peter, where do you live?

Peter: Second to the right and straight on til morning.

Wendy: Second turn?
Peter: No. STAR! Second Star! Gah, I forgot to say star. The most famous phrase in this play and I forgot it. I'm talking too fast. Anyway, you mustn't touch me. No one has ever touched me. But I must get my shadow to stay on my body... which means it would be.... touching me.

Wendy: Let me sew it on for you. … Oops I touched you.

Peter: Huh? Hey! Look! My shadow. Oh, I'm so clever. Oh the cleverness of me.

Wendy: And of course, I did nothing.

Peter: That's right. Girl!

Song - I Gotta Crow

When you just gotta go... err, I mean, crow

Wendy: Oh, Peter! You're just like Bieber! I just gotta kiss you. Do you know what that is?

Peter: I'll know when you give me one.

She hands him a Hershey's Kiss-shaped thimble. He gives her an acorn.

Peter: I think I like these kisses.

Then he talks about running away to his secret place. He asks Wendy to believe him about it. She so willingly does.

Song - Neverland

Then he introduces Tink, the jealous fairy. Every time a child says he doesn't believe in fairies, another one falls dead. Tink says Wendy is an ugly girl. Tink is right on! Wendy tries to get a kiss again, but Tink foils her evil plans by pulling her hair. Wendy gets an attitude. Peter just sighs, “Girls.” Ugh. Peter changes the subject by asking how the story Cinderella ends. He offers Wendy to come fly with him to Neverland, to tell the Lost Boys all the stories, since they are lonely and have “no female companionship.” Obviously, Mrs. Darling never warned Wendy about sexual predators who kidnap pretty young girls, so Wendy excitedly agrees.

Song - I'm Flying

Peter teaches all three kids to fly by sprinkling some illegal “fairy dust” on them and telling them to “think lovely thoughts”.

Wendy: The Frozen DVD!

John: Xbox One!

Michael: Hot Cheetos!

Wendy: Affordable healthcare!

John: Rise in minimum wages!

Michael: Hot Cheetos!

Peter: No, Michael, LOVELY thoughts

Michael: Ariana Grande!

Peter: Good!

Bingo! Michael is the first to rise up, arms and legs flailing. The others soon follow, and Peter leads them toward the not-large-enough bay window that magically opens, taking the top of the wall with it. That's gonna be a bother to replace. Out in the starry night sky, they fly towards Neverland. 

Kidnapping is a Felony. Just sayin'.

(Act II coming soon)