On Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 12, kids knew the storm was coming. School would be canceled the next day, and after that they would be off for five days for a long President’s weekend.
The typical kid would be savoring the time off. But at Willow Avenue School, there were 40 youngsters planning to stay in the building until at least 7:30 p.m. They were rehearsing for “Peter Pan Junior,” and they seemed to be enjoying it.
It was “white knuckle” time for the directors. The first show was more than a week away, but the interlude was deceptive. There would be no rehearsals while school was closed. When classes resumed, the kids would have one practice before they performed in front of an audience.
Kids sacrifice a lot of after-school hours to be in shows. But it seems to be fun, and also beneficial.
On Wednesday afternoon, the cast was rehearsing one of the final scenes of the show. The director reviewed the situation. The younger Darling children have almost forgotten their mother after following Peter Pan to Never Never Land. That bothers Wendy, their older sister, who is growing impatient with Pan, because he’s conceited and unwilling to grow up.
The director’s explanation influences the action on stage. Pan (Max Guttenberg) is in a foul mood when he enters. And Wendy (Cassie Matthieu) is visibly upset. “Why are you so angry?” she pleads.
Watching the rehearsal, you can sense that she understands what’s happening. She knows that they’re growing apart, and there’s nothing she can do to stop it.
That’s one of the benefits of the experience. If kids understand the play they’re presenting, it may help them approach other plays and other stories they read in school.
Being in the cast also creates camaraderie and a sense of group pride. During the Wednesday rehearsal, Peter makes a few attempts to crow. His last try is a winner. It seems to start from his knees and resonate through his body. It’s a crow that would make any rooster proud.
His fellow actors recognize the accomplishment, and spontaneously applaud. A few minutes later, there’s additional evidence of pride in accomplishment. The pirate ship is walked onto the stage.
You wouldn’t want to cross the Hudson in this ship, because it has no bottom. But it’s just right for the production. The shape is perfect and the masts are tall and stately.
“Do you like it?” a girl asks proudly. “My father built it.” The ship will be sailing on stage for the Thursday and Friday performances at 6 p.m., and for the Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the door, and audience members will see what the kids accomplished on those afternoons when all their friends were out playing.
