Come away to Neverland

COEUR d'ALENE — If you fly toward the second star on the right and straight on 'til morning, you'll find Neverland.

You can also go to Coeur d'Alene High School when the ensemble production of "Peter/Wendy" is on the stage, and you can see Neverland for yourself.

"Everybody really gets to live in the play for a significant amount of time," CHS theater instructor and director Jared Helm said Tuesday.

"Peter/Wendy" stars senior Harry Blackstone as Peter Pan and junior Kaia Poorboy as Wendy. It's the classic Peter Pan tale with a script directly taken from the original "Peter and Wendy" novel written by J.M. Barrie in the early 1900s.

Helm said what's beautiful about this show is it has a large cast that gets to immerse into this universe.

"They get to be a part of the world and create the world, of the Darlings and reality and Neverland," he said.

"Peter/Wendy" touches on themes of loss and eternal youth, hence Peter being the boy who won't grow up.

“Whenever I do a show, I always love the message and telling the story to the audience,” Kaia said. "Our message for this show is to ‘illuminate mortality.’ This show is really about putting out the message of Peter Pan, telling the true story that we all grow up and we all become adults and we all maintain youth, but we have to move on eventually."

Harry said it's more serious than the cheery Disney version.

“One thing I’ve learned along the way that’s pretty interesting is that Peter Pan isn’t really a good guy. He’s seen as this beacon of youth, but really, he’s trapped," Harry said.

He referred to one of the show's biggest lines: "To die will be an awfully big adventure."

"Peter Pan never gets to die," Harry said. "It makes you think — life is really worth living."

This is the first live production at CHS since the COVID pandemic.

“I love this theater," Kaia said. "I’m really happy to be back, doing a show and just being on stage with the people I love doing what I love."

Helm said the audience will leave "Peter/Wendy" entertained, with "an understanding and a respect for what it means to be able to give to other people and to be a part of something bigger."

"Theater has always been about being a part of something bigger," he said. "I hope that the audience leaves feeling like they attended a play and that lives on."

The show runs Saturday, Thursday, April 30 and May 1 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday and May 1 at 2 p.m. Each show will be at 40% capacity, socially distanced and seat assignments will be given upon entry.

Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and $8 for CHS ASB cardholders.

Info: www.chstheater.org