Watch a slideshow of the 2013 edition of the Lycée Francais de New York’s musical.
It is the 30th anniversary of musical theater at the LFNY this year, a tradition which has grown to include students of all ages, as well as teachers, staff and members of the administration. This year’s cast was no exception. For three packed nights (May 1, 2 and 3), the audience of parents, students, faculty, staff, relatives and friends was thoroughly entertained, and also touched by Peter Pan, a musical that addresses our longing to stay young, for the comforts of home and for the reassuring presence of our parents, even as our desire for independence cries out.
Peter Pan has many lighthearted numbers too that the audience seemed to know with songs like “I Gotta Crow” and “Ugh-a-Wug.” I watched the performance on opening night and marveled at the flying cast, hoisted up by wire and harnesses. Our student actors flew with ease, but we know from rehearsals that stabling oneself mid-air is not easy.
We also admired the acting and singing of all performers – the comic timing of Captain Hook and his sidekick, Smee, played by Seniors Mathieu S. and Victor C., respectively. The natural maturity of big sister Wendy, played by Phenix K., and the sprightly sensitivity of Senior Kristina M. in the title role of Peter Pan. She managed the difficult task of showing us Peter’s will to stay young, and also the maturity that exists even in him, as he takes the lead to protect the children of Neverland from Captain Hook and his band of pirates.
You couldn’t miss the tears in the eyes of at least a few adult audience members…and the excitement of the ticket holders who rushed to get a seat at Friday night’s sold-out performance, and of course seeing director Remy Loumbrozo lift the conductor’s baton from the piano with a sidekick of his own Stori McPhee!
Fifth grader Mia C. summed it up quite well, “It was amazing…I like how I got to see my friends and my teachers (on stage) in a whole different way.“ I felt that way about the actors on the stage, and the audience members too!
About the Author :
Elisabeth King joined the Lycée team in November 2011 as the school’s first director of communications. A francophile at heart, Elisabeth spent her junior year of college in Paris, and held her first job at the French Trade Office here in New York. She brings to the Lycée over 15 years of experience in media and communications in non-profits, government, news and business. She was previously executive vice president and director of strategy at ABI, Inc., a boutique public relations agency, and she worked as associate editor on two books co-authored by Todd Brewster and the late ABC News anchor Peter Jennings.