Like its title character, the story of “Peter Pan” has never gotten old. It did get an update in the 1990s, though, thanks to writers/directors John Caird and Trevor Nunn, which is the version fans of the story will still see staged by the Caesar Rodney High School Stage Crew and Thespians.
The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.

This version of “Peter Pan, or, The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up” follows the story everybody knows, and may be closest to the Disney version, according to director John Muller. The one significant difference is that it includes a modern-day narrator.

Ryan Norfleet plays the narrator, a departure from his more colorful characters, such as Sancho Panza in “Man of La Mancha” and Teddy Roosevelt Brewster in “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Norfleet wanted something a little different, something he could put his own stamp on.

“The character is completely what you make of it,” he said. And as such, he decided to make the narrator a kooky, grandfatherly English gentleman.

On the opposite end of the age spectrum, then, would be eternally youthful Peter Pan, played by Jason Stewart. The freshman said he understands why the show, and why his character in particular, has endured.

“He’s young, he’s cool, he’s so confident with himself,” Stewart said. “On the inside he’s kind of conflicted with the never growing up.”

That theme is relatable to all ages, Muller said.

“All of us wish we could go back to being a kid,” he said. That time before bills and responsibilities is appealing, as is the need to live life to the fullest.

Trying to steal Peter Pan’s youthful ways is Mary Garvey as Capt. James Hook. Casting a girl in the nefarious lead was something Muller said he debated for hours. Garvey was the right person for the job, so he went with it.

“Mary’s audition was just so perfectly Hook that I threw her name into the mix,” he said. “After deliberating for a long time, I decided that the theatre is a place to break the rules, to set a new standard, so to speak. We cannot forget that theatre began with casts of all men (in Shakespeare’s time in particular.)”

Muller wanted to do “Peter Pan” because nobody else had in a while, and so he could include more of the community.

“As a school, that should be our job,” he said.

He wanted to do a show families could enjoy together without worrying about adult material. Including community members onstage was important too, so he opened “Peter Pan” to CR elementary and middle school students, and cast 15 to 20 of them in the show.

One of those is Star Hill Elementary fourth-grader Ella Wisniewski in the lead role of Tinker Bell.

“I was just looking for a part in a play. I wasn’t looking for a part this big,” she said.

Muller said it’s been nice to see the high schoolers mentoring the younger kids.

“It’s so exciting when little things excite them,” Norfleet said.

Email Sarika Jagtiani at sarika.jagtiani@doverpost.com

IF YOU GO...
WHAT “Peter Pan” by the Caesar Rodney High School Stage Crew and Thespians
WHEN 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, Friday, Nov. 6, and Friday, Nov. 7
WHERE Caesar Rodney High School, 219 Old North Road, Camden
ADMISSION $5
MORE INFO Call 632-6680 or visit www.crtheater.org