The boy who never grew up

The story of Peter Pan is one of the stories that most of us have grown up with. A magnificent world, filled with color, adventure and some heartache, disillusion, pirates, crocodile, and fairies.

The character and his story

Peter Pan is a boy who never grows up and hates the adult world. He is always accompanied by his fairy (tinkerbell) and the dust that she gives him makes it possible that Peter can fly indefinitely.

He lives in the county of Neverland, it is an island its population consisting in equal proportions of pirates, Indians, fairies, and mermaids and it is where certain adventures happen.

Camilo Giraldo © Solkes

Loved by many adults, Peter Pan represents the happiness of childhood. And it is very hard not to get involved in the adventures of Peter and his companions. This is important because through his adventures many adults can revive a lot from their past, their dreams, and yearnings.

The magical writing from Sir James Barrier lies in the ability to make the dreams come true and for this reason, this work is pure fantasy in the modern theater.

A childhood dream

At the same time, this play offers the ideal security in a childhood’s dream. The beast seems very frightening but at the same time easy to dome. Good magic is absorbed through the atmosphere, circulates the clouds and air and it is easy to access in the case it is necessary.

Camilo Giraldo © Solkes

Yes, all must be said, not only at the level of entertainment and illusion in the development of the story but also that Peter Pan evokes a series of emotional and psychological responses.

Sir James Barriers was inspired by the Llewelyn Davies brothers. Between the brothers and Barriers there was a strong friendship. Since that time his imagination began to flourish.

However, although this story has complex childhood issues. For example, archetypal ability is his endless youth. On the other hand, Peter should never remember his adventures and what he learns about the world is wanting to remain a child.

The most common theme in the story is the fear of becoming an adult and facing problems of maturity.

Given the depth of this story, it is not surprising that this work has transcended the decades, generations, and art formats. This time we are talking about the theatrical performance of Peter Pan presented in Colombia.

And, as expected it has been on a high record. Presented at Teatro Jorge Eliecer Gaitan is the scenario that was chosen. Forty artists gave life to Neverland.

Peter Pan: the Musical

Peter Pan the musical, it was the first musical in Spanish to be presented at the West End of London.

The play was directed by Pedro Cano a Spanish writer and director of other musicals. With a stage having a large-scale structure exceeding 30 meters wide and 10 meters high.

Likewise, the soundtrack was renewed after more than 16 years and Toby Tobon, Colombian Grammy award-winning producer and guitarist Latino Juanes, will take care of it. We had the opportunity to talk with some actors who gave a breath back to some of the most iconic characters.

Fiona Hersey interprets Mrs. Darling. She is the mother who represents the security and the warmth of the coat and the tenderness and meals.

Karoll Marque interprets Mr. Darling. He is a man who comes from a bourgeois middle-class family. And it is the typical head of household haunted by his work, is cold, calculating, and especially proud. It is the world of traditional authority over the new forces of change.

Camilo Giraldo © Solkes

Roxanna Restrepo interprets Tootles. One of the lost boys. One of the humble kids and has bad luck in the adventures.

Solkes: how was the casting process for you?

Fiona Horsey – Mrs. Darling: It was an unexpected casting, I found out by chance by a notice on Facebook. It was a fun casting, and I was calm as ever in casting because the songs were very well prepared and the character so I felt safe

Roxanna Restrepo – Tootles: I heard about the casting 2 days before, so I was a little bit nervous, I had never been in a musical before, but I accomplished my objectives in the casting and I was selected to play the role, one that enriched me professionally and spiritually.

Karoll Marquez: When I was called for the casting I couldn’t go because I was in Cali recording “La Esclava Blanca” so I came to the cast one month later, when they had done a lot of rehearsals and staging. So I had to catch up soon. It was a challenge that I have enjoyed.

Solkes: until this moment, what has most impacted you?

Fiona Horsey – Mrs. Darling: what has impacted me the most is the ambition and how big the musical is.

Roxanna Restrepo – Tootles: there are a lot of things that have impacted me until the moment. At a personal level of give life to my character, that it’s a boy and I am a woman. Representing a boy is very complex. I managed to make it organic and give him his own personality. Also, what has impressed me is the organization and synchronization of each scene with the scenography; it is huge and many are impressed by it.

Karoll Marquez: It returns the sense of wonder, hope, faith, again belief and to dream. The message is clear and effective just have to imagine” and that happens to all people living the experience of seeing our musical.

A message of hope

Solkes: for you, what is the most important message from this play?

Fiona Horsey – Mrs. Darling: the message that you have to grow up, one never stops being a kid.

Roxanna Restrepo – Tootles: we shouldn’t forget to be kids, let our imagination fly, and enjoy every moment of life.

Camilo Giraldo © Solkes

Karoll Marquez: it gives us back the capacity of amazement, illusion, faith, belief and dream again. The message is clear and efficient “You should only imagine” and that is what happens to every person who comes and experiences our musical.

In real life, the characters are interpreted by magnificent authors. There also exists a lot of Peter Pan, adults who do not want to grow up and promise to love eternally and provide a happy life.

Neverland is a parallel that exists in the brain of the kids when they dream. There they have what they want, some have friends, others have animals, others have a small house, whatever they desire. We live in reality that on more than one occasion whips us and leaves us cold, without being able to breathe. So to think in a place like Neverland, is possible, it isn’t a wild idea after all.

Translated By: Carolina Correa

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