They might not have any pixie dust, but for two Kent kids, flying with Peter Pan is now a reality.
Alexzandra Gorski, 17, and Miko Curry-Edwards, 9, have already begun flying in practice for their roles as Wendy and Michael in the Hi-Liners youth theater production of J.M. Barrie’s beloved story.
In lieu of the pixie dust, they had a different sort of magic – stage magic – courtesy of stage-flight company Flying by Foy. The company gave Alex, Miko and their fellow actors a preliminary flying lesson Aug. 24.
“It’s really fun,” said Miko of his first flying experience.
Alex seconded that opinion. “It’s fun,” she said. “All of us have sore spots from the harnesses, but otherwise it’s pretty exciting.”
Having the legendary Flying by Foy crew to help with a Hi-Liners production is magical in and of itself, according to Miko’s mother, Kathleen Edwards.
“This is the first time we’ve ever flown anybody (in a Hi-Liners play),” Edwards said in a phone interview Aug. 26.
In addition to her role as Miko’s mother, Edwards is also the director for “Peter Pan,” and the artistic director for the Hi-Liners.
She’s been involved in many musicals with the Burien-based nonprofit program over the years, but said she never expected to be directing so challenging a production as “Peter Pan.”
She said she had suggested “Peter Pan” years ago, and that – as the program had no funds to pay several thousand dollars for the likes of Flying by Foy – they might find some way to stage it without actually flying the actors.
“Our board president said, ‘There’s no point in doing “Peter Pan” if you’re not doing the flying,'” Edwards recounted.
So it came as a shock to her when last year that same board president suggested to her that she might direct “Peter Pan” as this year’s fall MainStage musical.
“What do you mean?” she had said to him. “You said there was no point in doing it unless we fly him.” His response, she said, was: “Yeah … unless we fly him.”
One big fundraiser auction and $7,000 later, Edwards has had her dream come true — she’s directing “Peter Pan,” flying and all.
And having Flying by Foy as the flight company is the icing on the cake.
Flying by Foy was founded by British-born engineer Peter Foy, the man who flew Mary Martin in her signature performance as Peter Pan. Foy, who died in 2005, invented a number of innovative rigging systems to make stage flying more spectacular and magical for the audience, and at the same time safer for the actor. His company remains one of the premiere stage flight companies in the world, staging aerial stunts for – among others – Disney’s “The Lion King” and the Monty Python musical “Spamalot.”
“It’s an amazing amount of history that comes with (Flying by Foy),” Edwards said, adding that “Foy flew Mary Martin, and they’re still flying our Pan today.”
Edwards declared the first flight Aug. 24 a success, going off as it did without any major injuries. “We had a broken nail,” she said, adding that “there’s always a little bit of hitting the walls in the nursery on the first rehearsal; that’s par for the course.”
By the time “Peter Pan” opens on Saturday, the cast will have had two weeks of practicing with the flight harnesses, far more than many theater groups get, Edwards said.
The main flight instructor, Johnny Pickett, hearing how long the group had to practice with the harnesses, told Edwards, “You’re golden.”
“Peter Pan” will run weekends Sept. 6 through 21 at the Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd St., Burien. Tickets cost $12 to $25, and are available either at the door, or in advance by phone at 206-617-2152 or online at www.hi-liners.org.
Contact staff writer Christine Shultz at 253-872-6600, ext. 5056, or cshultz@reporternewspapers.com.
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