For its musical production of “Peter Pan,” Hampshire Regional High School decided to bring one of the most prominent fantastical elements of the classic tale to life – by having actors, suspended mid-air, fly around stage.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” assistant producer Susan Davison said. “The actors and actresses have all mentioned they enjoy doing the flying – a little scary at first.”
The musical, which opens Friday evening, took 75 cast and crew members over two months to prepare. Though the play was previewed to children on Tuesday, those showings did not include any flying. The complexities of the logistics of making actors fly meant that everything from the sets to the costumes had to be specially designed, Davidson said.
“It’s certainly the most complicated production, technically, that we’ve done,” she said.
Each of the players who are rigged to fly have two handlers who help ensure that the magic goes off without a hitch, she said.
“Peter Pan” will be staged at Hampshire Regional High School, 19 Stage Road in Westhampton, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets can be reserved by calling 437-5597 or emailing hrhstickets@gmail.com and can be purchased at the door. Adults are $15, and children 18 and under are $10.