Don’t Grow Up: See the Moonlight Troupers’ Peter Pan
at Anne Arundel Community College
by Martha Blume
Want to go to a land where you never have to grow up? Where ticking crocodiles slink across the stage and Captain Hook, the “creepiest creep in the book,” leads a band of pirates who do a very nasty version of the tango? Where, if you really, truly believe, you can make Tinkerbell come back to life? And if you think lovely thoughts, like chocolate and Christmas, you can fly?
Come to Neverland. The Moonlight Troupers’ musical, playing this month at Anne Arundel Community College, tells the story of Peter Pan, the boy who won’t grow up. When Peter comes to the Darling home looking for his shadow, lost on a previous visit, he meets Wendy, John and Michael. With a sprinkle of fairy dust, he wisks them off to Neverland where they have marvelous adventures with redskins, pirates and the lost boys who “fell out of their carriages when their nurses were looking the other way.”
The Moonlight Troupers’ show is a delight. Ashley Adkins, 18, as Peter Pan is a perfect fit. Preschoolers won’t be scared of foppish Captain Hook and his naughty pirates. Costumes, scenery and special effects are enchanting. Watch for Tinkerbell as a winged laser light. The flying scenes are sensational. Don’t miss it.
7:30pm FSa & Th, Nov. 21; 2pm SaSu @ Pascal Center, Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold. $10 w/age discounts, but kids under 3 forbidden: 410/777-2457.
You Can Fly!
(Don’t try this at home)
What do Peter Pan, the Ice Capades, Garth Brooks and the Back Street Boys have in common? All of them learned to fly, thanks to the mechanics and training of a company called Flying by Foy. Established in 1950 by Peter Foy, Flying by Foy made Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby fly as Peter Pan on the Broadway stage.
Moonlight Troupers director Bob Kauffman, who retires after Peter Pan and 31 years as professor of performing arts at the college, wouldn’t give away all the secrets. But he did divulge that representatives from Flying by Foy loaned their equipment and a flight trainer to teach the actors in Peter Pan how to appear to fly gracefully from a series of cables on pulleys and tracks above the stage at Pascal Center.
Peter Pan Trivia Quiz
Grab a pen or a pencil and a piece of paper then write down your answers. When you're done click on the link below to see how you did. Good Luck!
1. Everyone in Neverland is desperately in need of a …
a. shadow
b. mother
c. doctor
2. The character Peter Pan turned … this year.
a. 100
b. 50
c. 25
3. Peter Pan first appeared …
a. on Broadway
b. in a Disney movie
c. in a book called The Little White Bird
4. The Darling children’s nurse is a …
a. dog
b. young woman
c. witch
5. Where can you find Neverland?
a. on a chart
b. in your heart
c.under the sea
Click here to see how you did!
Kids Stuff
Saturday, November 16
Pinocchio
Chesapeake Music Hall’s Children’s Theatre presents the much-loved tale, Pinocchio. Watch as love and truth make Pinocchio’s dream come true. Doors 11:30am, show 12:30pm @ Chesapeake Music Hall, Annapolis. $10: 410/626-7515.
Sunday, November 17
Baby Animals
Here is a great opportunity for children ages 3-4 to learn about the world of baby animals. 10:30-11:30am & 1-2pm @ National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel. Free; rsvp: 301/497-5887.
Tuesday, November 19
Ducky Day
As the weather gets cooler and the skies begin to gray you will see more ducks in the sky and on land. Come learn about these wonderful water creatures. 10:30am @ Kings Landing Park, H
untingtown. $3/member: 410/535-5327.
Wednesday, November 20
Pop-up Artist
Acclaimed children’s book artist, Robert Sabuda, will be on hand to sign his books, The Night Before Christmas, Twelve Days of Christmas and The Christmas Alphabet. Sabuda’s work includes pop-ups, faux stained glass, delicate cut-paper illustrations and more. Noon @ Borders Books, Annapolis Mall: Free unless you buy: 410/573-4850.
