Sydney Robinson (left), 11, of Southgate as Tinkerbell is jealous when Brendan Siddall, 15, of Allen Park as Peter Pan pays attention to Cameron Frank, 12, of Southgate as Wendy in Southgate Community Players’ “Peter Pan Jr.” The musical runs 7 p.m., Sept. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at Davidson Middle School, 15800 Trenton Road in Southgate.
By SUE SUCHYTA
“Peter Pan Jr.” flies into Southgate Friday as the Southgate Community Players presents the musical as one of its youth theater productions.
Performances are at 7 p.m. Sept. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at Davidson Middle School, 15800 Trenton Road in Southgate. Tickets are $13, and are available by calling 734-282-4727 or at scponstage.com.
The leads include Brendan Siddall, 15, of Allen Park as Peter Pan; Brad Hardecki, 17, of Woodhaven as Captain Hook; Noah Trudeau, 11, of Trenton as John Darling; and Southgate residents Cameron Frank, 12, as Wendy Darling, and Sydney Robinson, 11, and Blake Robinson, 9, as Tinker Bell and Michael Darling.
Sydney Robinson said the show appeals to both adults and children.
“It’s really a very fun experience, and it is good for the whole family,” she said. “There are very funny parts and there is something for everybody to enjoy.”
She said the fairies and pixie dust will appeal to children, while adults will enjoy seeing popular movie references, like a pirate song popularized by the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie.
Hardecki said “Peter Pan” is a show that everyone will enjoy.
“It is a timeless story with great actors,” he said. “The kids are doing fantastic in this show. It’s just a fun show.”
Hardecki said he is having fun playing the tyrant Captain Hook.
“We have a beautiful set, and it’s going to be a great show,” he said. “It’s a great group of kids, with a lot of singing and dancing. It will be fun.”
Siddall said he has fun playing a character who does not want to grow up, and it lets him channel the little boy inside him.
Frank said the cast is like a big family, and she enjoys bringing out her motherly instincts in her role as she tends to her stage brothers and Peter Pan.
Others in the cast include Allen Park residents Abby Demorow, 15, Anderson Demorow, 7, and Audrey Demorow, 9, as the crocodile, Mrs. Darling and Silvermist, respectively.
Also Lincoln Park residents Jackson, 7, Julia, 11, and Sophia Klug, 4, as a raccoon twin, an Indian and pirate, and a mini fairy, respectively; and Rahne Olson, 9, as Iridessa.
Also Riverview residents Grace Bock, 8, as Squirelee; Ryan Boos, 12, as Atina; Sarah Cagle, 14, as a mermaid; Paris Fisher, 10, as Foxy; and Angel Garcia, 9, as an Indian and pirate.
Also Southgate residents Julianne Elipse, 13, as Aquata; Irene Hisona, 8, as Fawn; Abbiegayle, 6, and Angela Juco, 11, as a mini fairy, and an Indian and pirate, respectively; Savannah Manungas, 10, as an Indian and pirate; Isabel Perez, 11, as Lyria; and Caitlin Simonds, 14, as Ariel.
Also Trenton residents Chloe Carpenter, 4, as a mini fairy; Libby Jackson, 12, as Vidia; and Duncan, 10, Fiona, 6, Moira, 15, and Taeryn McCardell, 14, as Hop, a mini fairy, a pirate and Arista, respectively.
Also Grosse Ile Township residents Camron, 8, and Ella Barton, 12, as Cubby and Andrina, respectively; and Elayna, 10, and Elyse Miller, 7, as Possum and a mini fairy, respectively.
Also Brownstown Township residents Jillian Coon, 13, as an Indian and pirate; Eli Lobb, 6, as a raccoon twin; Nina Nelson, 12, as Rosetta; Olivia O’Brien, 11, as an Indian and pirate; Kelsi Thayer, 15, as an Indian and pirate; and Olivia Williams, 9, as Periwinkle.
Also Rockwood residents Jules, 13, and Brynne Degenkolb, 13, as Skunky and Alana, respectvely; and Heather Howard, 15, as an Indian and pirate.
Also Woodhaven residents Isabelle Grima, 13, as Tiger Lily; and Cierra Piwok, 11, as an Indian and pirate.
Also Connor Moran, 10, of Melvindale as Mr. Smee; Hannah Shaffer, 13, of Wyandotte as an Indian and pirate; Sophia Chan, 7, of Flat Rock as a Lost Boy; and Daniel Kemp, 17, of Romulus, as Mr. Darling.
PGD’S ’39 STEPS’ IS A LAUGHTER-FILLED EVENING OF FUN SPOOFS
“The 39 Steps,” an entertaining spoof of the Alfred Hitchcock movie, performed by four very talented actors, fills the house with laughter and sends you off with a grin on your face as it launches the 87th season at the Players Guild of Dearborn.
You do not have to be a fan of Hitchcock films to enjoy it: the talents of Alex Gojkov of Dearborn and Tiffany Mullins of Livonia, who play more than 40 roles between them, and the manner in which they pull off that feat is worth the price of admission alone.
Farmington Hills residents Ross Grossman and Sarah Zakaria anchor the show as the main characters, and create their share of laughter as well, whether inspired by their gyrations while escaping while handcuffed together or posing as an initially romantically reluctant couple.
Directed by Alan Ellias of Farmington Hills, the three-weekend run opened Friday and runs through Sept. 28 with 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday shows at the theater, 21730 Madison in Dearborn.
For tickets or more information, call 313-561-TKTS or go to playersguildofdearborn.org.
There are running jokes throughout the show in addition to the physical humor: Hitchcock’s likeness, naturally, appears, and the names of his movies pop up in the dialogue at regular intervals. It is like waiting for bingo numbers: they occur when you do not expect them.
The show likely contains the first depiction of an aerial chase scene on the Players Guild stage, and Mullins has a very funny death scene, rivaling the over-the-top performance of Matthew Pecek as Pyramus in PGD’s summer production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Producers Diane Kaplan and Jeff Bartos have done an amazing job with a very demanding production.
There are more than 100 wonderful sound effects, from trains to amazing movie music of the 1930s. There are many lighting special effects, numerous props, and amazing quick and inventive scene changes.
The costumes run the gamut from elegant to downright hysterical – who would not laugh to see Gojkov, with 5 o’clock shadow, in an elegant, pale pink tailored woman’s suit?
Kudos to the lighting, sound and stage crews, who likely never have a spare minute until the final curtain comes down.
If you are looking for laughter, do not miss this show.