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2 No vember 30 - December 6, 2014 Br ainerd Dispatch By Jacqueline Spendlove TV Media F or the second consecutive year, NBC's presenting us with a night at the theater for the holi- days. Following the success of last year's immensely popular special "The Sound of Music Live!," which drew in more than 18 million viewers, the network is running with what works. "Peter Pan Live!" is a live televi- sion broadcast of the latest pro- duction of the much-loved story about a boy who refuses to grow up. "Girls" star Allison Williams will be soaring across the stage in the iconic title role, and with Os- car-winning actor Christopher Walken ("Catch Me If You Can," 2002) donning his pirate's hat and curly black wig as Captain Hook, the event is not to be missed. The three-hour live special airs Thurs- day, Dec. 4, on NBC. This version of "Peter Pan" is just the latest in a long line of ad- aptations of J.M. Barrie's play, which debuted in London in 1904. The original Broadway production came 50 years later, with Mary Martin ("Birth of the Blues," 1941) cast as Peter and Cyril Ritchard ("Half a Sixpence," 1967) as Hook. Both stars took home Tony Awards for their performances, and the Broadway cast album of the songs is still in print today. This isn't the first time NBC will be airing the musical either. Sixty- five million viewers tuned in to the peacock network's live broadcast of the Broadway production in 1955, and further telecasts hit the air in 1956 and 1960. They've come full circle with this latest production, and there's no doubt that the ratings will be through the roof. For anyone only familiar with Disney's animated version of Peter Pan, it may seem odd to have a woman playing the role of a young boy, but Martin and Williams are by no means the exception to the rule. For stage productions, it's ac- tually become the norm for Peter to be a female part. English law at the time of the first stage produc- tion prohibited minors under the age of 14 to be on stage past 9 p.m., and size and proportions simply work better with a woman playing the part than a man. The role has been played by the likes of such stage actresses as Sandy Duncan ("The Hogan Fami- ly"), Cathy Rigby ("The Wizard of Oz," 1981), Maude Adams ("What Every Woman Knows," 1908) and Mia Farrow ("Rosemary's Baby," 1968), and now Williams is joining the ranks of these iconic women. As far as the star of the show in concerned, the role is a dream come true. Williams has loved "Pe- ter Pan" since she was a little girl. Her father, "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams, spoke to this when he visited "Late Show With David Letterman"back in October 2014. "I have listened to those damn songs since she was three years old. Whether some network was going to invite her to do it on television, immaterial. She's been Peter Pan since she was old enough to make a sound." Indeed, a "Today" piece showed a picture of a three-year-old, felt-cov- ered Williams dressed up as The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up and looking cute as a button. "I'm as excited as I was as that tiny girl in my Halloween costume as I am now," the actress said in the interview. "Girls" fans, in which Williams plays one of the four main characters, Marnie Michaels, will have borne wit- ness to some of the actress' crooning chops already. With some (ahem, most) of her performances on the show coming across as pretty cringe- worthy, if not without talent, you may be surprised to learn that Williams is actually classically trained in singing. Perez Hilton dug up some videos of Williams belting it out, including a performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and a highly praised mashup of the "Mad Men" theme song and "Nature Boy." "She will reinvent the iconic role of Peter Pan with her wit, her warmth, her dynamic flying and her wonderful musical abilities," they said in a state- ment. "The score will be sung beauti- fully and introduced to a whole new generation of families." As for her on-stage nemesis, sing- ing apparently isn't Walken's strong suit, but his phenomenal acting chops and experience both on the sil- ver screen and the theatrical stage should more than make up for that. "The songs are done almost like patter," he told "Entertainment Weekly." "Think Rex Harrison in 'My Fair Lady.'" And apparently, he danc- es, so that alone is worth tuning in for. The cast also includes Minnie Driver ("Good Will Hunting," 1997), who serves as narrator and also plays a grown-up Wendy who has become too old to return to Never- land. Christian Borle ("Smash") doubles up as Mr. Darling and Hook's right-hand man, Smee, and Kelli O'Hara ("Sex and the City 2," 2010) portrays Mrs. Darling. As for the format, people love a live show. It really speaks to the per- formers' talent that there's no room for mistakes or flubbed lines; you'll be watching it just as if you were sitting in the theater with the cur- tain rising. During the holidays, we tend to cling to the timeless stories we know best. Get your fill of pirates, fairies, mermaids and the flying boy who never grows up when NBC airs a special musical broadcast of "Pe- ter Pan Live!" Thursday, Dec. 4. Never say never Neverland comes to prime time with 'Peter Pan Live!' Cover Story this week Allison Williams and Christopher Walken headline "Peter Pan Live!" Mon.-Fri, 8:00-5:30, Sat. 9:00-12:00 With coupon. CASH Sales only. No other discounts apply. Pride® Lift Chairs Choice of Style & Color $ 50.00 OFF VALUABLE COUPON Expires 11/30/14 Stop in and see our "NEW" Serta lift chair! 206 W. 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