As Thanksgiving break fast approaches and students are restless to get out of school, they always have the annual fall play to look forward to, performed by our very own talents. This year Spring-Ford Area High school theatre presented “Tinker Bell,” a re-imagination of J.M. Barrie’s fairy-tale classic, “Peter Pan.”
The program follows the lesser known story of Tinker Bell, the spirited fairy who escapes her homeland of Neverland Island when the rest of the fairies suddenly start dying. In London, she finds the infamous Peter Pan, who rejuvenates the previously dying Neverland. The plants grow, the animals return, and Peter starts to bring Lost Boys, a group of ragtag boys who follow in the footsteps of Pan in the sense that they do not want to grow up as well.
However, when The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up brings the Darling children to the island, Tink grows jealous of all the others taking Peter’s time. While the mesmerizing, twinkling lights scattered throughout the stage reflect the playful and lighthearted nature of the play, there is also an important message on the complexities of friendship.
Performances ran from Nov. 15-16 for a total of three shows, including a Relaxed Performance during the Saturday matinee. This Relaxed Performance welcomed more people to enjoy the program through adjustments with the sound and lighting, providing noise-canceling headphones and sensory toys as well as a quiet place in the lobby, and encouraging patrons to enjoy the show whichever way they felt most comfortable.
Additionally, a meet-and-greet brunch was set up prior to the last evening performance on Nov. 16, allowing for the opportunity to take pictures and get autographs with cast members, further immersing members of the Spring-Ford community in the fantastical show through this Disney-esque event.
The aforementioned cast features junior Kayla Sekkes, who starred as Tinker Bell herself in the production.
“It was really fun to embody the character of Tinker Bell and have to use my voice as most of the emotion,” Sekkes said. “It was also really fun getting to work with new people on the production.”
Alongside her was fellow junior Elise Graff, who played Tinker Bell’s light, and took over the main role for the understudy show on November 14. The object of Tink’s jealousy, Peter Pan, was played by sophomore Presley Parker.
The Darling family included Wendy, played by Gray Vanning, younger brothers Michael and John, portrayed by Alan Kanagie and Margot Brevoort, and mother Mrs. Darling, played by Sharon Mateta.
Although the Darling children were portrayed to some extent as antagonists to Tinker Bell, the classic villains were still present to terrorize the inhabitants of Neverland. Senior Charlie McGinty took over the role of the fearsome Captain Hook, accompanied by Foster Stewart as his sidekick, Mr. Smee. And of course, it would not be a true “Peter Pan” production without the crocodile, played by Tessa Rodriguez. Sharon Mateta played Mrs. Darling.
The power of the ensemble cannot be underestimated in any production, let alone this one, where the pirates and Lost Boys truly make the stage come alive.
The Lost Boys were played by AJ Markland as Tootles, Lily Sisak as Nibs, Luciana Perez as Slightly, Christopher Paciotti as Curly, Addison Hansen as Twin 1, and Morgan Bickle as Twin 2. Sophia Brady, Kyla Graham, Mary Kelley, Chris Paciotti, and Victoria Sebred played other Lost Boys in the ensemble. Isabella Coleman, Jess Goldberg, Janise Hong, Joceline Lesage, Leah Mangore, Sharon Mateta, Parker Mead, and Angelina Ramirez played pirates in the ensemble.
