Peter Pan gender change?

JimboJones123

JimboJones123

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Does anybody know when or why they changed the character of Peter Pan in the parks from Female to Male. I know that in 1989 they had a Male PP because it was in the Disneyland Fun Video, and in 1965 PP was female as seen in the 10th anniversary of Disneyland as well. I myself have seen Male PP just a year ago at Disney World. Anybody know about when and why the change was made. The animated feature was one of the first times where Pan was actually a boy, but like the stage presentation, they went with a female for the park character. In more contemperary tellings 2002's PP, Hook, Fox's Peter Pan and the Pirates, PP was male, but in stage shows it is still a female role. Anybody know why the change at the parks happened or when? Did Barrie (sp?) have anything to do with it? Thanks.
 
K

KentB3

Well-Known Member
JimboJones123 said:
Does anybody know when or why they changed the character of Peter Pan in the parks from Female to Male. I know that in 1989 they had a Male PP because it was in the Disneyland Fun Video, and in 1965 PP was female as seen in the 10th anniversary of Disneyland as well. I myself have seen Male PP just a year ago at Disney World. Anybody know about when and why the change was made. The animated feature was one of the first times where Pan was actually a boy, but like the stage presentation, they went with a female for the park character. In more contemperary tellings 2002's PP, Hook, Fox's Peter Pan and the Pirates, PP was male, but in stage shows it is still a female role. Anybody know why the change at the parks happened or when? Did Barrie (sp?) have anything to do with it? Thanks.
Click to expand...

That's a good question. All of the Pans I have seen so far (in meet & greet pics), as well as the ones I met in the parks on my trip last November (pics can be seen on the Trip Report forum) have definitely been male. However, I did hear that a girl did play Peter Pan at WDW as recently as 2000-2001; though she only appeared in parades and shows, frequently appearing in the Main Street Electrical Parade when it briefly returned to WDW around that time.

I do in fact have the Disneyland 10th Anniversary Special from 1965 on tape, and the Peter Pan clearly was a girl, apparently making little or no attempt to disguise the fact that she was female! :animwink:
 
barnum42

barnum42

New Member
In the stage plays Pan has traditionally been played by a woman, so the early days of the parks may hark back to that tradition?

Even now, the role of a boy is sometimes played by a woman. A few years ago I saw Les Miserables in the West End when I guess the boy scheduled to play Gavroche at that performance was unable to perform, a short woman from the company played him.
 
maelstrom

maelstrom

Well-Known Member
drew smith said:
At the Boo to You parade this year at MNSSHP, Christopher Robin was a lady....It was wierd and bad show....
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Christopher Robin is a little boy and does look a little girlish. Maybe they picked a woman who didn't really suit the role, but I think in general Christopher Robin is a role that like Peter Pan can be played by a woman.
 
mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
I believe even when the role was played by a woman it was meant to be a boy, not a girl. So the story really has not changed at all. I think they use to use women because he was suppose to be a boy not a man and needed someone smaller, slender, etc. Not sure why they decided to go with boys playing the role now but I don't think the role itself ever really changed.

Can someone confirm that or am I wrong on that?

JimboJones123 said:
Does anybody know when or why they changed the character of Peter Pan in the parks from Female to Male. I know that in 1989 they had a Male PP because it was in the Disneyland Fun Video, and in 1965 PP was female as seen in the 10th anniversary of Disneyland as well. I myself have seen Male PP just a year ago at Disney World. Anybody know about when and why the change was made. The animated feature was one of the first times where Pan was actually a boy, but like the stage presentation, they went with a female for the park character. In more contemperary tellings 2002's PP, Hook, Fox's Peter Pan and the Pirates, PP was male, but in stage shows it is still a female role. Anybody know why the change at the parks happened or when? Did Barrie (sp?) have anything to do with it? Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
JimboJones123

JimboJones123

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
mrtoad said:
I believe even when the role was played by a woman it was meant to be a boy, not a girl. So the story really has not changed at all. I think they use to use women because he was suppose to be a boy not a man and needed someone smaller, slender, etc. Not sure why they decided to go with boys playing the role now but I don't think the role itself ever really changed.

Can someone confirm that or am I wrong on that?
Click to expand...

maybe for the stage character, but why the park change.. and when?
 
mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
To be honest I don't know. They could not use a real boy as for the hours needed to do it, kids are in school. Maybe they had too many complaints that kids knew it was a woman and went with a guy after that.

It is probably harder to find a guy though as they need to be small and slight to seem younger.

JimboJones123 said:
maybe for the stage character, but why the park change.. and when?
Click to expand...
 
LSUxStitch

LSUxStitch

Well-Known Member
I'd rather a girl play the part than see a middleaged man play it. Seems the past couple of times I have been, it has been a noticeably older man..lol
 
tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
So I'm not the only one that noticed this!

One of the PPs is in his mid-late twenties (or possibly early thirties) and has lots of body hair.

Every time I see him in the parade, I wonder who the heck in Entertainment decided to okay that guy. I recently heard a Guest mention that "Peter grew up." :eek:
 
Mecha Figment

Mecha Figment

New Member
I know the girl who played christopher robin this year. and yes...unlike peterpan, christiopher robin is strickly a girl role because they want soft features, and he's a non speaking role. the only time you see him is in the halloween parade.
 
S.E.A.

S.E.A.

Member
drew smith said:
At the Boo to You parade this year at MNSSHP, Christopher Robin was a lady....It was wierd and bad show....
Click to expand...

so you'd rather Christopher Robin be played by someone with wrinkles all over his face and enough hair to make him be mistaken as the Yeti's offspring?

It's actually way more sensible to cast a girl in teh role of a boy because of their soft features and petite physique. so in my opinion, good show.

I guess it's only mandatory for a real boy to play Peter Pan for meet and greets where he'll have to interact with guests.
 
Monty

Monty

Brilliant...and Canadian
In the Parks
No
The theatre traditionally had a female actor play Peter because the part required soft features, no beard or shadow thereof and a boyish voice. Boys' voices tend to change in early- to mid-teens and younger male actors couldn't perform the role reliably.

I'd be put off by Peter with a five o'clock shadow!
 
joanna71985

joanna71985

Well-Known Member
I know that there was a girl Peter Pan in CSC and SADCT last year. And I know a lot of the Peter Pans (and yes, there are a couple of "older" ones).
 
FrumiousBoojum

FrumiousBoojum

New Member
I've only seen one female Peter Pan at the parks in person... it was for a performance of Spectromagic in 2002.

The opening day DL Peter Pan was quite funny. :)
 

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