Live Theater at the June Bug Center Draws a Full House
-This first appeared in The Floyd Press on October, 2016 with a larger spread of photos.
The Floyd Community Theatre Guild presented the classic tale of Peter Pan and Wendy to a full house Saturday night.
Adapted by Doug Rand from the novel by J.M. Barrie, the production stayed faithful to the original story, using creative and minimalist set designs to recreate the Darling home nursery and Neverland.
Played by 19 young actors (children/teens ages 8-15) and directed by Emily Gruver, Peter Pan and Wendy featured flying scenes, dramatic battle scenes, lost boys, pirates and song.
The audience clapped loudly for Tinkerbell (represented by a sound effect and made believable by the imagination) in an effort to influence her recovery after she drank poison that was meant for Peter.
They laughed at a sighting of the clock-ticking crocodile, lurking through the aisles of the June Bug Center’s Black Box Theater, where the play was performed.
Comic relief also came by way of John Darling, played with slapstick and defiance by 7th grader Karlie Carico. Lily Byler, first time guild performer and 7th grader, played the melodramatic humor of Hook with authority and flair. Eighth grader Ella Berzins drew from her past acting experiences to play the boyish Pan, and Sunny Anderson as Michael Darling – who flew to Neverland with teddy bear in hand – pulled on the audience’s heartstrings.
Costuming helped to make the fantasy and the characters come to life, including the period dress worn by Wendy, played by 9th grader Alena Bond. Bond performed a 2015 Vine (an online video sharing service) hit, I Am a Lost Boy of Neverland by Ruth B during the bittersweet closing scene about memories and growing up. Other songs performed (in part) came from the original film soundtrack and included A Pirates Life for Me and I Won’t Grow Up. – Colleen Redman
Note: There is still time to catch Peter Pan and Wendy, which will be presented Friday and Saturday, October 21 and 22nd at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 23rd at 2 p.m.
Watch some video clips of the play HERE.