Peter Pan Version 2 (Perusal)

Scene One

The Darling’s Nursery

There are 3 beds and a chair. A large open window is (SR) The Darling Children are playing at pirates. Music cue 1: John and Michael are sword-fighting, John is Hook and has a hook for a hand hook. Michael is Peter Pan and uses a rolled-up umbrella as a sword. Wendy is tied to a chair with loose ropes.

Wendy (melodramatic) Help! Save me from the evil Captain Hook, Peter Pan!

Michael (heroic) Fear not Wendy. Me and my brave sea dog will save you! (looks around) Where’s Nana, John?

John I don’t know Michael, but she’s missed her cue again.

Enter Nana bounding on (SR)

Wendy Here she is, now!

Michael See off Captain Hook, Nana!

Nana (bounds over to John) Woof! Woof! Woof!

John Blast, you Peter Pan! You win this time! Just keep that savage brute away from me!

Nana Woof! Woof! Woof!

Wendy’s ropes fall away, and they all dance around, whooping and cheering.

Enter Mr and Mrs Darling (SL)

Mr Darling What on earth’s all that noise about?

Michael We’re just playing our favourite game, father.

John Peter Pan versus Captain Hook and his pirates.

Mrs Darling Well, it’s time to drop anchor and climb into your hammocks, children.

Children Hammocks!?

Mr Darling It’s nautical speak, for beds.

The Children giggle and jump onto their respective beds. Wendy takes a rolled-up shadow from under her pillow and cuddles it close.

Mrs Darling What’s that you’re cuddling, Wendy?

Wendy Oh, it’s nothing really.

Michael It’s Peter Pan’s shadow!

Mr Darling (chuckles) Peter Pan’s shadow?

John We think he surreptitiously visits us, to listen to Wendy reading stories.

Mr Darling And he somehow managed to leave his shadow behind, did he?

Wendy But it’s true, father! (lets the shadow unroll) See?

Mrs Darling (playing along) It does look remarkably like Peter Pan’s shadow. Doesn’t it George?

Mr Darling Don’t encourage them Mary. Listen children. Peter Pan doesn’t really exist.

Children Oh yes, he does!

Mr Darling Oh no, he doesn’t!

Wendy Well, we all believe in him. (to audience) Don’t we?

Mrs Darling Let them have their fun George. Now, did you book the taxi to take us to the party?

Mr Darling Yes, Mary.

SFX: Car horn.

Mrs Darling That sounds like it now. Come along, George. Goodnight children.

Mr Darling Be good for Nana, children.

Children We will! Goodnight mother! Goodnight father!

Exit Mrs and Mrs Darling (SL)

John They’ve gone. Let’s play pirates again!

With a whoop the children jump off their beds and start to pretend fight again.

Nana (stern, pointing at beds) Woof! Woof! Woof!

Michael Can’t we play a bit longer, Nana?

Nana (shakes head) Woof! Woof!

Wendy Let’s get into bed, boys. (whispers to them) And who knows. Perhaps Peter Pan will visit us again tonight.

John And if we manage to stay awake, we might actually spot him.

The Children settle down to sleep and lights dim.

Exit Nana (SR)

Music cue 2: Enter Tinkerbell via the window she tiptoes to each bed in turn.

Music cue 3: Peter Pan suddenly appears at the window.

Peter (whispers) Are they all asleep, Tink?

Tinkerbell (whispers) Yes, Peter.

Enter Peter via the window.

Peter Then let’s hurry and find it, before they wake. Gosh, that girl…(Wendy)…looks pretty

Tinkerbell Huh! (shows off her figure) Compared to me, she looks like a big pudding. (spots the rolled-up shadow in Wendy’s arms) Look, Peter! She has your shadow!

Peter Well done, Tink! (tries taking the shadow, but Wendy holds it tight)

Wendy (murmurs) Mmmm! Peter Pan.

Tinkerbell The big pudding’s awake!

Peter No, Tink. I think she’s just dreaming about me, that’s all.

Tinkerbell Hurry up and get your shadow and then we can leave.

Wendy turns and loosens her hold and Peter eases it from her grasp.

Peter I’ve got it! Now, find me something to stick it back on with.

Tinkerbell Like what?

Peter I don’t know, Tink! Look for something!

Tinkerbell Fine! (stomps around and picks up a bar of soap) Here, try this soap.

Peter (sits on floor and tries using the soap to stick shadow back on his feet) It won’t stick back on, Tink! (frustrated, he throws a tantrum, stamping his feet) Urrrgh!

Wendy (wakes and sits up) Peter Pan! I’ve just been dreaming about you, and now here you are! (gets out of bed and moves to him) But why are you crying?

Peter I’m not crying! I had something in my eye. (heroic stance) Peter Pan, never cries!

Wendy (to Tink) Are you a fairy?

Tinkerbell (sarcastic) There’s no fooling you, sister.

Peter brings his face close to Wendy’s, staring at her.

Wendy Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?

Peter I’m sorry, it’s just that I’ve never seen a normal girl up close before.

Tinkerbell And what do you think I am, Peter?

Peter You’re a fairy, Tink. And fairies aren’t normal girls.

Wendy Gosh! I’ve never met a real fairy before. (touches Tink’s wings)

Tinkerbell (slapping her away) I’ll thank you not to touch my wings. They crease easily.

Wendy I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any harm.

Peter What is your name?

Wendy I’m Wendy Moira Angela Darling.

Tinkerbell That’s a silly name for a girl.

Wendy And what’s your name?

Tinkerbell None of your business, that’s what.

Peter It’s Tinkerbell.

Wendy (laughs) And you think my name is silly?

Tinkerbell My name is perfectly normal…for a fairy. I’m also Peter’s best friend in the whole wide world. Come on Peter, let’s get back home to the Lost Boys.

Wendy Who are the Lost Boys?

Peter They’re children who got lost after falling from their prams when nobody was looking. And because they weren’t claimed in seven days. They now live with us in Neverland.

Wendy Whereabouts is Neverland?

Tinkerbell Didn’t you do geography at school, then?

Peter Ignore Tink, Wendy. She knows full well, that Neverland is not on any normal map.

Wendy I’d love to go somewhere that isn’t on a normal map.

Tinkerbell Well you can’t, so there! (sticks tongue out)

Wendy But why can’t I?

Tinkerbell Because the only way to get to Neverland is to fly there. And you can’t fly because you’re a…(air quotes)…normal girl.

Peter Tink’s right. The only way to get to Neverland is to fly there.

Tinkerbell Shame, big puddings can’t fly.

Peter The Lost Boys would love to have you as their mother, Wendy.

Tinkerbell I can be their mother if you like, Peter.

Peter Can you cook, Tink?

Tinkerbell No. I never learned how.

Peter Can you sew?

Tinkerbell Not really.

Peter Can you read bedtime stories?

Tinkerbell What’s a bedtime story?

Wendy I can do all those things.

Tinkerbell I’d rather fly than do any of those things. You have your shadow Peter, now let’s go.

Peter But it won’t stick on, Tink!

Wendy I could sew it back on for you if you like.

Peter You’d do that for me?

Wendy Of course. Just sit on the end of my bed and I’ll fetch my sewing-kit.

Peter sits on the bed. Wendy fetches the sewing-kit and sews on the shadow.

Peter (stands and shows it off) That’s wonderful! How can I ever thank you Wendy?

Wendy By taking me to Neverland with you?

Tinkerbell That’s impossible. Isn’t that so, Peter?

Peter Nothing’s impossible if you put your mind to it. Pass me your bag of magic fairy dust.

Tinkerbell What for?

Peter I’m going to sprinkle some over Wendy, to enable her to fly like us.

Tinkerbell All the fairy dust in Neverland, couldn’t make that big pudding fly.

Peter Don’t be rude Tink and pass me your bag.

Tinkerbell I think you’re making a big mistake, Peter.

Peter Peter Pan never make mistakes.

Tinkerbell There’s a first time for everything.

Peter Stop being awkward Tink and give me your fairy dust.

Tinkerbell (hands over a small pouch) Here! I’ll fly on ahead and warn the Lost Boys to expect a big pudding for a mother! (climbs through window or flies off)

Wendy I don’t think she likes me very much.

Peter Ignore her, Wendy. Fairies can be very clingy. I’ll sprinkle some of this fairy dust on you, and then you’ll be able to fly with me to Neverland.

Wendy Can my two brothers come too? I’m sure they’d love it there.

Peter Of course they can.

Wendy (waking them) John! Michael! Wake up!

Michael (sleepily) What is it Wendy?

Wendy Peter Pan is here!

John Yeah, right. (turns over)

Peter (crows loudly) Cock-a-doodle-do!

John & Mich (sit up wide-awake) Peter pan!

Peter Hello boys. How would you like to come to Neverland with us, and fight pirates?

John & Mich (wide-eyed) Yes, please!

John But how will we get there?

Peter We’ll fly there! (point at window) Second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning!

Michael Hooray! We’re going to fly to Neverland!

John I hate to burst your bubble, Michael. But it’s physically impossible for us to fly. It’s a case of weight ratio and arm strength, versus thermal updrafts and wind speed velocity. People aren’t aerodynamically equipped to fly, I’m afraid.

Wendy Neither are bumblebees, but they seem to manage it all right.

Peter Well said, Wendy. Now, all of you stand still, while I sprinkle you with fairy dust. (he does so and then drops the pouch) And now, let’s fly!

Music cue 4: Exit all via window or fly up and off (see properties for ideas)