FLT closes out season with Peter Pan

Everyone would love to believe “Peter Pan” is true, said director Dwight Lindley. That rings true when one looks at the cast, largely comprised of children but still featuring adults.

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The story, it seems, is something one finds hard to forget.

“I’ve loved this show as far back as I can remember. The songs are very bright, uplifting. There’s a lot of energy in them. They’re just fun,” said Lindley.

Lindley has directed mainly comedies for Florence Little Theatre, but when he heard the theater planned to produce “Peter Pan” in the spring, he jumped at the chance to direct it.

“Complexity is one of the things that excited me about it,” he said. “To do some things we’ve not done before at Little Theatre: the coordination required for flight with Peter. You’ve got two people pulling ropes to make sure Peter flies.”

Familiar faces

“This is the first time we have to show off all the capabilities that we have,” said Michael Lindley, who plays Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. It’s something he feels is long overdue for a new theater building. “The stage itself is so much higher. It feels so much bigger. The extra height gives a lot of abilities, especially with the flying.”

That, along with the addition of improved technological equipment, is allowing the theater to do interesting things with characters such as Tinkerbell, who appears as a tiny ball of light on stage so minute her speech is the tinkle of keys.

Although it’s a new theater with new technology, Lindley, who has played lead roles in several past FLT productions, said, “In a lot of ways, it feels the same. We’ve got familiar people around.”

Family matters

Lindley’s statement is true in more than one way.

Dwight Lindley, the director, is also his father. Many of the cast members in “Peter Pan” are related. There are brothers and sisters, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons and, in some cases, whole families.

David Rast plays a pirate in “Peter Pan” in his first FLT production. Rast said he has been attending FLT plays for 20 years and dropping his son off at FLT rehearsals for the past 10 years. He said he was tired of waiting outside for his son to get done with the production and decided to get involved himself.

“Working with my son, just watching him do it and me and him talking about it on the ride home,” Rast said has been the most enjoyable part of the production.

Rast, whose last theater role was “Thomas Edison” in the sixth grade, said it’s been difficult but thrilling to participate in a production where so much is required.

“I thought it’d be easy, but I’ve had to sing, learn to dance,” he said, as well as learn lines.

Broadway meets Dargan Street

Rast, a pharmaceutical representative by day, said he’s thrilled to be involved in a production that is so complex.

“It really is beyond description,” he said. “This play is the biggest, most ambitious play that FLT has ever done. I’m telling all my friends to get in here and buy tickets early because it’s going to sell out fast. This is Broadway. This isn’t Florence. It’s Broadway meets Dargan Street.”

Fellow pirate Richard Sowell agreed. “It’s the most technical play we’ve ever done.” He said the choice of “Peter Pan” as the the last production of the first ever season in the new theater building is fitting.

“The opening play (for FLT, “Jesus Christ Superstar”) was bright, beautiful and exciting, and the closing production is something colorful and exciting,” he said.

For some cast members, it not only closes the season for the new theater, but presents a nice segue between the Cashua and Dargan Street theaters.

Sarah Morrison, who plays the role of Mrs. Darling, took part in the final production at the Cashua Drive theater and now in the final production of the opening season of the Dargan Street theater.

“It’s really special to be a part of the old and the new,” she said. “(‘Peter Pan’) is a fun story that really brings out the child at heart. In our world, we grow up so fast this helps us to bring out the inner child.”

IF YOU’RE GOING:
WHAT: Florence Little Theatre presents “Peter Pan”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. April 24-25, 28 and May 2; 3 p.m. April 26 and 11:30 a.m. May 2
WHERE: Florence Little Theatre, located at 417 S. Dargan St., in Florence.
ADMISSION: Tickets are $24, $17 for students. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday
INFO: (843) 662-3731.

Cast Members
Peter Pan - Kimi Simon
Wendy Darling — Kristi Shorter
Hook/Mr. Darling — Michael Darling
Smee — Tim Shorter
Tiger Lily — Katie Rosa
Mrs. Darling - Sarah Morrison
John Darling - Donovan MacPherson
Michael Darling — Nicholas Pierce
Liza — Judie Pierce
Starkey — Donnie Zarrella
Jane — Raija Jaughn
Nana — Ed Sprenger
Crocodile — Rachel Coon
Slightly Soiled — Josh Knight
Tootles — Margaret Saverance
Noodles — Nicole Sims
Curly — Anna Watt
Twin #1 — Greer Spotts
Twin #2 — Phillip Rast
Dibs — Kayley Green
Blink — Tyrone Williams
Tinkerbell — Carrisa Fazio

Chorus Members
Pirates - Rhyeem Baker, John Bankson, Jessica Benton, Bayrone Billups, Kyle Curry, Matthews Jeffords, Rebecca Kelley, David Rast, Richard Sowell, Scott Walters
Indians - Emma Billups, Andrew Chard, Rivers Crouse, Josh George, Rebecca Kelley, Cam Melton, Kelley Pierce, Grace Shelley, Emily Whitney
Mermaids - Sloan Bankson, Dayna Slaughenhoupts

Pan Fare
South Florence junior Kimi Simon will be playing Peter Pan this year and 8 Days wanted to get her opinion on what it’s like to fly, sword fight and tangle with one-armed pirates.

Q: What previous FLT productions have you participated in?
A: My last big role was Jenny in Shenandoah two seasons ago, but I was in Jesus Christ Superstar in the chorus.

Q: Throughout certain parts of the production you are being swung above the stage by a host of wires and pulleys. What was it like taking flight?
A: I was scared at first. I had a few bruises. It’s getting more comfortable, though. People are saying I’m more graceful.

Q: Had you seen n“Peter Pan” on stage previously?
A: I’ve never seen it on stage. My only real exposure is the Disney movie. With the stage version, you see a little more in-depth of what the characters are feeling.

Q: What has been your favorite part of the entire production?
A: Working with all the cast, I met a lot of new people with this one. Flying was awesome and swordfighting.