Dropping a mere two weeks after the broadcast, Peter Pan LIVE! (Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event) was released on December 16, and surprisingly it’s among the best cast recordings released in 2014. Once we’re able to “see” past Allison Williams’ requests to have people stay away if they were going to “hate watch, past the Twitter-verse reacting to Christopher Walken’s peculiar take on Captain Hook (not to mention his dancing skills), past Christian Borle’s distracting, but very welcome, biceps and past the novelty of it all, this soundtrack leaves us with what should have mattered from the start: the music. Peter Pan was always going to be a tricky sell, because unlike a juggernaut like The Sound of Music which has permeated every fiber of popular culture thanks to the 1965 film, Peter Pan is less popular. People know the fact that the lead character is always played by a woman, or think it’s the Disney version. There’s also no complete version of the show available, which makes the NBC soundtrack quite a feat in terms of preserving this musical for future generations.
Without further ado, here are five reasons why this soundtrack is pretty much essential:
5) Fixing Insensitivity
One of the most common complaints about classic Broadway musicals is how insensitive they may seem in terms of race, gender and sexual orientation issues. Peter Pan was no exception, portraying Native American-inspired characters as savages who acted according to stereotypes of the era. Peter Pan Live! not only cast an actress with Native American roots as Tiger Lily, they also changed the insensitive lyrics of “Ugg-a-Wugg” into a much more politically correct song called “True Blood Brothers”. While extreme political correctness can often be off-putting, the result in this soundtrack was a rather commendable effort.
4) Minnie Driver
Perhaps one of the most delightful surprises about this production was that Minnie Driver was cast as older Wendy (i.e. the narrator). While hearing her tell the story was a pleasure, her appearance in the finale, which reminded us how underrated she was in The Phantom of the Opera, made for a moment of pure heartbreak. Her longing was enough to make us swoon and miss the innocence of childhood.
3) Allison Williams
Williams was the object of much vitriol before anyone even saw the production, and she rightfully put an end to negative comments the second she opened her mouth and sang. Always on pitch, her notes came out clear and melodious, heck, she even pulled off singing with a British accent. Best of all was her earnestness, which achieved what few other performers have done with the part: she made Peter sound as full of life as a real teenage boy.
2) The Orchestrations
David Chase’s musical direction was absolutely stunning. While the arrangements were a little bit underwhelming during the telecast, since they has been pre-recorded and took away from the “live!” aspect of the show, on the soundtrack the are exquisite. “I’m Flying” for instance features what seem like endless layers of instruments and notes that force one to hit “repeat track” in order to take in all its richness.
1) Kelli O’Hara
The single greatest element about these NBC live musicals is the fact that they’re bringing brilliant Broadway performers right into the living rooms of millions of viewers all over the world, who otherwise would never have a chance to hear them. Casting the magnificent Kelli O’Hara as Mrs. Darling was a true strike of genius! As an actress she has the ability to bring true warmth to any part she plays, and as a singer, few performers rival her in terms of clarity and reach. Her rendition of “Tender Shepherd” should become a popular lullaby, and her “Distant Melody” is the thing melancholy is made of.
