Tampa was full of pixie dust this week when Cathy Rigby, former Olympic gymnast, and now grandmother of four, flew into town and across the Straz Theater for the Performing Arts in her starring role as Peter Pan.
Peter Pan was written first as a drama, and produced in England in 1904. The play was authored by James M. Barrie who later wrote a series of books based on the play titled “Peter Pan, the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up”
The story of Peter Pan has always fascinated children and adults alike. Peter Pan represents eternal childhood, free from all responsibilities such as school and work. Peter lives in a fantasy jungle playground called Neverland, a place where no one grows old.
The best thing about Peter is that he can fly. As Peter tells his nemesis Captain Hook, “I am youth, I am joy, I am freedom.”
Peter’s adventures begin when he and his fairy friend Tinkerbelle fly into the bedroom of three sleeping children. Peter is looking for his lost shadow. The children, Wendy and her younger brothers, Michael and John befriend Peter, and with “some faith and trust and a little bit of pixie dust,” they fly away to Neverland and their adventures begin.
Peter Pan, the play has been adapted into a musical stage version and also several films. The role in the musical has been traditionally played by a woman. The late actress Mary Martin performed the role for many years starting in 1954. Singer-actress, Sandy Duncan and other actresses have also played Peter..
Today former Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby plays Peter Pan. She started performing the role in 1974. Rigby and her husband, Tom McCoy are the show’s producers.
Blonde,15 year old, pigtailed Cathy Rigby became “America’s Sweetheart of Gymnastics” in the 1968 Olympics when she won a gold medal. She went on to win other medals and a silver medal in the 1970 World competition. Her winning personality and ability popularized gymnastics as a sport in the United States.
After retiring from gymnastics, Rigby studied acting, singing and ballet. She has gone on to become a successful actress in films and on the stage. She received a Tony nomination as best actress in a musical in 1991.
Rigby also battled anorexia and bulimia for years. She credits becoming a mother and her husband with her recovery. She has written books on the subject, and is a motivational speaker for those dealing with eating disorders.
When she visits various cities, she takes time to read Peter Pan to disadvantaged children and presents them with copies of the book.
She is 59 now and a grandmother of four. She is trim, youthful and can soar across the stage better than ever. Except for a few age lines around her eyes, the 4-foot-ll inch, 105 lb. Rigby has changed little from when she first began playing Peter Pan in 1974.
It’s a demanding, athletic role filled with cartwheels, handstands, sword fights, huge dance productions, and of course flying. She has no trouble keeping up with the younger performers and her flying acrobatic skills are incredible.
She planned to retire six years ago, but is still going strong. Rigby figures she has played Peter over 3,000 times. She may do Peter Pan in China next year, where there is a great demand for American musicals.
She hopes to sing “I Won’t Grow Up” in Mandarin. .
Rigby will be in the New York area after Tampa and will perform at Madison Square Garden during the holidays..
To see Peter and Neverland yourself go outside. Sprinkle your body with lots of pixie dust and think lovely thoughts. Next soar straight up into the night sky. Neverland is on the second star to the right.
If you prefer the stage version, just click here….
As a former Wendy wanna-be, Peter never came for me and I never got to go to Neverland, but I do now have a son named Michael John and a niece named Wendy.
Sources:
St.Pete Times
http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2004-10-02-rigby_x.htm
http://www.biography.compeople/cathy-rigby-9542353