Virtual theatre includes QC references and fantastic cast!
The show “For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday” will be presented by the Mississippi River Bend Players on August 21 at 7:30 pm. The virtual reading will be shared on Zoom and afterwards the cast and playwright will host a Q & A.
The Story
A loving and lovely view of life, death, and being young forever. As a family gathers around the father's hospital bed, a daughter's remembered performance of Peter Pan inspires memories and dreams. They talk of grand adventures, fairy tales, and politics. They consider youthfulness and thoughts of Neverland.
The playwright, Sarah Ruhl wrote it for her mother, Kathleen Kehoe Ruhl and the show is filled with Quad Cities references and memories locals will recognize.
“For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday” premiered at the Actors Theatre of Louisville as part of the Humana Festival in March 2016. It is recommended for an adult audience and runs about 90 minutes.
Reviews (concordtheatricals.com)
“There is an intrinsic lyricism to Ruhl’s ideas as well as her language in this work [...] Ruhl’s writing also gives voice to a binding love between siblings that overcomes conflicting beliefs.” - The Courier-Journal
“A work that is equal parts dark and light, recalling the ebullient excitement of youth, but also confronting the hard fact of mortality […] Ruhl’s imagination is among the most adventurous at play today in the theater.” - The New York Times
“Sarah Ruhl imbues the fantastical with a singular logic that is only hers but becomes yours during the course of the evening. She gives a map to a kind of preternatural joy; only when the curtain comes down do you remember that we cannot fly, time travel, or conjure our departed loved ones.” - Mary-Louise Parker
The Cast
Kathleen Kehoe Ruhl plays the role of the mother she inspired as well as Peter Pan
Michael Carron is John
Jeff Coussens, the chair of the Augustana Theatre department, will play Jim/Captain Hook
Mike Schultz is Michael
Jeanne Scurek is Wendy
Koug Kutzli is the father
Tristan Odenkirk is reading the stage directions
Jennifer Popple, also from the Augustana theatre department, is the director and Jackie McCall is the producing artistic director.
Cost
Tickets are free, however Mississippi Bend Players (MBP) would appreciate donations. Any money received will be split between the MBP and the Davenport Central Community Circle Food Pantry.
Jackie McCall explains how the donations to the food pantry came about:
“This has been an incredibly fun production to work on, but as with everything in 2020 it hasn't always been smooth sailing. Monday's storm blew through as we were in the midst of our final rehearsal. I could tell where the storm was because our cast and team members slowly vanished from the screen one by one as the wind moved westward.
“Since many people are still without power we've postponed the show to August 21 [Originally August 14] at 7:30 pm. We're grateful that Sarah Ruhl will still be able to join us for the Q & A session on our new date.
“The good thing that's come out of these unforeseen circumstances is that we've created a new partnership with the Central Community Circle Food Pantry. So many people were already food insecure this year and now this storm has forced many to throw out the entire contents of their refrigerators. As part of a relief effort, Mississippi Bend Players will be donating half of the proceeds from the show to the pantry which serves Davenport. It seemed like the perfect tie in since it's Kathy Ruhl's hometown and the city where much of our play takes place.
“We hope people will join us virtually so we can lift their spirits with this incredible show and at the same time help us lift the spirits of those in need.”
Register
Sign up online to receive the link to the Zoom virtual reading. There is an optional donation within the registration form.
Meghan Cooley moved to the Quad Cities from St. Charles, IL, as an Augustana College student over 20 years ago. She left briefly after graduation and then returned to work in admissions and then marketing at Augustana College for 18 years. She now works as a consultant for admissions marketing and social media. She also does copy editing and writes for the Quad City Moms Blog. Now a true Quad Cities transplant, Meghan lives in Rock Island with her husband, Luke (R.O.W.V.A. and Augustana grad and Modern Woodmen employee) and four boys. She loves living in the Quad Cities and finds it the perfect place to raise a family, plan a date night, and go on adventures.