05 May,2011 08:24 AM IST | | Aditi Sharma
Akvarious Productions' Peter Pan brings the magical world of the boy who wouldn't grow up on stage. Don't miss a chance to meet the boy hero, Wendy, the Lost Boys and, of course, Captain Hook
This year, Summertime at Prithvi is turning out to be one literary affair. The first new play to debut at the children's theatre festival was Kabuliwala by Rabindranath Tagore, A Special Bond I and II (based on Ruskin Bond's stories) have had a run too, Ranga Theatre's Wonderland combined Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland with Cervantes Don Quixote and now, Akvarious Productions brings the classic Peter Pan on stage. Besides these, there are at least a couple more plays, also based on classic literature that are yet to premiere. But director Hidaayat Sami's presentation of Peter Pan seems to be something truly special. It is one of those rare plays that manages to impress even during rehearsal and promises not to disappoint audiences.
Actors rehearse for the play Peter Pan. Pic/Rane Ashish
Hidaa (as Sami is christened by Mumbai's theatre fraternity) has been toying with the idea of recreating the magical world of Peter Pan for eight years. Now that he is actually doing it, he seems to be too filled with energy to stand still even for a moment. Hushed whispers inside Prithvi Theatre inform us that he hasn't slept or eaten in almost a month.
Sufficiently warned, we decided not to pester him much for quotes. All we got was, "I'm very fond of Peter Pan's story but the idea to do it on stage is because it gives you a chance to try and create some magic in an auditorium. Last summer, I saw some children's plays where people played music from Bollywood films and did some somersaults. Now that works for them but I just felt that it's time someone raised the bar."
What Hidaa means by raising the bar and creating magic is actually getting his actors to fly during the performance without using harnesses. The Darlings literally fly to Neverland with Peter Pan and Faezeh Jalali (who plays Peter Pan) frequently takes the aerial route to get to the stage. Even those who don't flyu00a0-- Captain Hook (Kumud Mishra), Smee (Kashin Shetty) and Tinker Bell (Ira Tiwari)u00a0-- will have you hooked (uhm, pun intended). Whether you want to introduce your tot to the magical world of Peter Pan and his friends or simply relive your childhood, this one's a must watch.
On Today and tomorrow, 4 pm and 7 pm, May 7 and 8, 11 am and 4 pm
At Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Vile Parle (W).
Call 26149546 Tickets Rs 200
About Peter Pan
Author JM Barrie created the character Peter Pan, who is a mischievous little boy who can fly. The play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up are based on his adventures on the island of Neverland with Wendy Darling and her brothers, the fairy Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, the Indian princess Tiger Lily, and the pirate Captain Hook.
