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Pan-demonium
By Denise Dick
Boardman High School to present ‘Peter Pan’ this weekend
By DENISE DICK
BOARDMAN
Performing in Boardman High School’s production of “Peter Pan” takes more than singing and acting talent.
Some characters fly.
The production will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday. All performances will be in the Boardman Performing Arts Center at the high school, Glenwood Avenue.
The students who portray Peter Pan and Darling children Wendy, John and Michael don harnesses attached to ropes, allowing them to fly around the stage.
Sarah Turner, 18, plays Peter, and her flight pattern covers more stage area than any of the other characters.
“It is so fun,” the senior said. “It’s really a thrill.”
Flying By Foy of Las Vegas came to the BPAC for three days to teach the performers how to fly and those behind the scenes how to maneuver ropes that allow the characters to take flight. The drama students raised money through ad sales and sponsorships to pay the company.
Turner was an understudy in a previous production of “Fiddler on the Roof” and tried flying then.
“I was kind of worried about singing and flying,” she said.
It ended up not being a problem.
She did, however, have to learn a series of leg positions used while flying to help her steady herself.
Students control the ropes attached to the Darling children, but Gary Scattergood, who works in maintenance at the school, and Glenn Sivak, an industrial-arts teacher, handle those for Peter.
“She flies all around the stage,” Scattergood said.
Senior Tim Welsh, 18, performs the dual role of Mr. Darling, the children’s father, and the notorious Captain Hook.
“Being the villain is always the best,” he said. “It’s my absolute favorite.”
Playing the dual role creates an interesting link between the two worlds of family life and pirate life in the show, Welsh said.
Though he doesn’t defend his dastardly character, the young actor does believe there are elements of Hook that people will find relatable.
“He’s afraid of aging,” Welsh said. “That’s why he doesn’t like Peter Pan because he’s a boy who doesn’t grow up.”
For him, it’s the lead pirate’s love of music that’s identifiable.
David Mullane, one of the show’s directors, estimated that about 90 students are involved in the production, which includes the school’s orchestra.
“It’s a big show,” Mullane said, adding that it’s the biggest production performed on the BPAC stage.
Mullane, also the school’s theatre director and a communications instructor, said Welsh and Turner had to study to use stage weaponry for the show’s fight scenes.
Tickets range from $7 to $12 and may be bought online at www.boardmandramaguild.com or by phone at (330) 519-2633. They also will be sold at the door one hour before the show.
The show’s other directors are Heidi Domhoff and Michael Koziorynsky, with musical direction by Errol Kehrberg and Michael Moritz and choreography by Nick Opritza.