Comment On That "Peter Pan" Video

The other day I posted a video showing a couple of near-disasters on the set of a community theatre production of Peter Pan (though not a production from around here, I should add).

My pal Elaine Young sent in this comment:

I watched the Peter Pan YouTube video you posted with disbelief. It was obvious that there was little thought on setting the stage in this production but especially with the safety of the actors and the wire flying.

First Stage Theatre Co. just presented Peter Pan in 2008 and we spent hours and hours training our flight crew, stage crew and actors as to the aspects of set placement, sight lines and actor safety.

In fact, we had our flight director from ZFX here 10 days during tech week and during our first weekend of performances. Sometimes, in an effort to conserve finances and with the idea that a short and simple instruction of wire flying will be adequate, some theatre companies can become overconfident about the ability to produce this type of show.

In the YouTube video, it was obvious the flight crew did not have a proper sight line and the set was improperly placed and constructed. I have to give credit to First Stage on always keeping the actors' safety as our primary goal in all of our productions.

Proper training with a mature and knowledgeable tech crew will lead to a safe and enjoyable production for everyone. Thanks for the reminder and thanks to the amazing flight crew, tech crew and cast of First Stage Theatre's Peter Pan in Fall 2008.

That video does show the importance of going that extra mile in rehearsals and planning. Apparently the show went on as planned after that incident, but watching it should send a chill through anyone who's taken part in community theatre.