Peter Pan is not just another one of those fly by night children’s shows that inevitably appear around Hannukah. A co-production of the Haifa Theatre and the Orna Porat Theater for Children and Youth, Peter Pan will become part of the companies repertoire, and as Orna Porat Theater CEO Ran Gueta says, “Sitting with a three year old in a theatre with 1,200 seats is like going to Disneyland, which is fine, but we are trying to create something different.” Gueta says Peter Pan will be performed in theatres of 800 seats and the original score created for this production by Tal Blechrovich with lyrics by Barak Feldman will be performed live, without relying on playback.
Peter Pan is directed by Zvia Hoberman, who recalls: “When I was five years old, my parents took me to see Peter Pan at the Haifa Theatre; it was an experience I will never forget. I remember Gila Almagor, who played Peter Pan, told the children that Tinkerbell is near death, but they have the power to save her with their clapping, and the entire audience was screaming! I realized then that theatre is a matter of life and death.”
To all parents who dread the glittery over-sexualization of many children’s shows, Hoberman promises, “Ours is a very innocent play.” Midnight East’s preview peek at two of the numbers from the musical – Peter Pan teaching Wendy to fly and the Song of the Lost Boys, confirms her words. Performed by a young, talented cast, the songs bring the energy and magic of childhood to the stage.
Midnight East looks forward to seeing the entire show.
Peter Pan will be performed:
December 11 – 15 at the Haifa Theatre, 50 Fabzner St.
Tickets: 04-8600500, 04-860555
December 17 – 19 at the Noga Theatre, 7 Jerusalem Blvd, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Tickets: 03-6813131
Image credit: Kfir Bolotin
