Peter Pan (2000)

Downhill after first act.

The first act in the nursery is rather delightful. Rigby is great for the flying, holds her own as a singer. The flying effects, sets and costumes are wonderful. But why all the tinkering with the libretto and even adding songs not in original?! appalling!

The use of adults in too many of the childrens roles greatly detracts from the charm of the story. Wendy seems positively middle aged here.

A pity there is not a technically good version of the Mary Martin production. I also enjoyed the Sandy Dennis version more when I saw it live in the early 80s. February 16, 2008

More flash, less magic...

More flash, less magic.

I've been fond of the Peter Pan musical for some time. I grew up watching an old taped copy of the Mary Martin commercial version, and I remember being extremely excited when they told me a new Peter Pan musical was going to be on TV. (I think I was seven.) All I can remember from watching the Cathy Rigby version at that time was being confused as to why they were using the "other" Peter Pan musical songs (I didn't quite understand the concept of plays yet) as well as why it was just... oddly unNeverland like.

That was ten years ago. I bought this reissued DVD today, and my opinion remains much the same.

The Broadway version of Peter Pan is indeed flashy - better flying and other special effects, gorgeous complicated sets, lavish costumes (the mermaid in the lagoon, the Indians are wearing something that doesn't resemble a dollar-store Halloween costume) but, I feel, there is absolutely none of the magic. There are new scenes, new dialogue, new takes on songs... and none of them work for me.

It's all too "Broadway." Gone are is close-knit stage as the Lost Boys (some of whom are adult women, which I must ask, WHY? when there are clearly child boy actors to play these parts) build a house for Wendy, and it is replaced by a huge empty stage with haphazard choreography. The charming (albeit a little stereotypical) Indian chants and dances are replaced by more politically correct "authentic" (lol) tribal dances. This is one of my biggest irks. I can understand making Tiger Lilly a black-haired or brunette girl, but Neverland is NOT the real world. It is a child's world. And when children play (Pirates/Cowboys/etc) and Indians, they do not don Tribal headdresses and recreate a Native American dance. They run around and whoop! with their hands. And the original version of the Indians wasn't even that bad, compared to the Disney ones. ("What makes the red man red" etc.)

I thought, maybe, that it was just me having been first exposed to the Mary Martin version, but others (who have no connection to either) have told me of a similar problem with this version. It just tries to hard to be BROADWAY! and flashy, that it misses the magic that is Neverland.

I don't care for Cathy Rigby as Peter, either. She just looks... old, to me, which is strange because I think Mary Martin was older than Cathy in the version I have. She doesn't play a very convincing Peter. Mary Martin had that odd, eclectic energy about her -- you KNEW she was an older woman, but she gave off this air of childish and stubbornness that makes her Peter click with me.

My question: Why has this been reissued but the elusive DVD of the Mary Martin version has not? February 6, 2008

Best on Stage Production of Peter Pan I've Ever Seen

I'm directing Peter Pan next year and knew nothing about the stage production, so I started doing research. At the time I could only find the Mary Martin version and was very disappointed in it. Then... Wow... Cathy Rigby truely is Peter Pan. (And I'm a sceptic when it comes to girls playing a boy.) This is what I imagined Peter Pan would look like on stage. The sets are great, the video quality is good for a live recording, and the music is wonderful. If you're looking for an on stage version of Peter Pan, this is it. You won't be disappointed. December 3, 2007

Awesome production

I have a four year old little boy who absolutely loves this version of Peter Pan and I am thrilled because it is the broadway version and he seems to have taken a huge interest in the theatre! His little buddy and he have no interest in the Walt Disney version at all. We have this title on dvd and I wanted to purchase it for his little friend's bday. I searched everywhere for it and could only find it through NY and it was very expensive. When I found the vhs tape on Amazon I was thrilled and it was right in my price range. We also have the cd of music and the boys play and sing the songs...word for word!!! This is a fabulous production and I am very pleased we have the good fortune of owning it!! January 15, 2007

peter pan

This was an exciting movie that made me want to join peter pan and the lost boys in thier exciting adventures throughout neverland, becoming an indian chief and defeating the dreaded Captin Hook. November 3, 2006

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