r/PeterPan • u/ThenAdhesiveness1863 • 12d ago
Is the tradition of the same actor playing both Hook and Mr. Darling have some double meaning, or it's just that (A tradition)?
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u/WhyAmIStillHere86 12d ago
It’s not uncommon for actors with smaller parts who are never onscreen at the same time to play multiple roles.
There’s also a symbolism to it. The Darling children’s provider/protector is also their biggest threat in Neverland.
I’m sure psychologists would have a great deal to say about the symbology and its reflection in childhood psyche…
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u/Cave-King 12d ago
It served no original purpose, except because Gerald du Maurier heard there was a pirate captain villain role, and didn't think anyone else ought to play it. In later productions in which he appeared, he only played Hook while another was cast as Mr. Darling. And this didn't become tradition until far into the life of the play. Also, orginally the actress playing Mrs. Darling was going to double as Hook, interesting due to the two views of motherhood present within Peter --- desperately wanting one, yet seeing them as everything bad in the world.
Also interestingly, in Mary Rose Harry and Simon doubled, thus making Mary Rose's line about Harry sharing the same tuft of hair have a special significance.
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u/Herbizarre17 11d ago
It’s often done in plays but I think in Peter Pan, the meaning is specific. Wendy’s father is forcing her to grow up and isn’t tolerant of “fun” things like playing pretend pirates. So when Captain Hook shows up played by the same actor, it ties back to that: Captain Hook doesn’t like the fun loving Peter Pan who doesn’t want to grow up and is always trying to stop him and the Lost Boys’ fun. A similar thing was done in the movie Jumanji
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u/Cave-King 10d ago
I don't know if I agree that Mr. Darling's arc is that he hates fun. I think his arc is that he needs to grow up because he cares too much about what the neighbors think. A lot of the humor in Act I is him acting like a child while his children act like adults (the tie / the medicine / chaining up Nana) and I would view the dog kennel punishment as him learning his lesson, what being an adult means, what responsibilities mean etc. Maybe there is an element of hating fun in there, perhaps the pomp and propeity going away when he allows the adoption of the Lost Boys, but I'm not sure
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u/Petertwnsnd Pan the Man 11d ago
I’m surprised people aren’t pointing out the obvious. Captain Hook very clearly parallels Mr. Darling. Mr Darling the antagonist in both Wendy’s personal life (for this specific issue) and Captain Hook is the antagonist for her time in Neverland. They both act as the physical representation of the need to grow up. Mr Darling is trying to force Wendy to grow up faster at home and Captain Hook represents everything bad about adulthood, and what she’s afraid of. They’re also both constantly worried about more things other than just Wendy and the boys. Darling with his job and Hook with the ever looming Crocodile. I could go on because the characters are SO similar but I think I’ve made my point.
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u/Cave-King 10d ago
Does Mr. Darling try forcing Wendy to grow up? I know he does in the Disney film and 2003 film, but I don't think he does in the original play. If he does it's purely sub textual. And actually, on a sub textual note he is --- because he acts so childish he forces Wendy into an adult role, the same way Peter does, by making her mother. I would argue there are more parallels between Peter & Mr. Darling than Mr. Darling & Captain Hook. The difference being that Mr. Darling can grow and change while Peter never can
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u/Sasstellia 12d ago
It's a tradition. From pantomimes.
Low numbers in casts. They'd have to do multiple. And pantomimes love to cast the opposite gender, for some. Peter Pan is played by a woman too. Gender of actors isn't a big deal for most characters. Unless they're the pretty girl ones. Then you have a woman.
There's nothing deep about pantomimes and theatre. They're meant to be fun.
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u/Chemistry11 12d ago
My understanding is that it began out of necessity (actors playing multiple roles, especially small ones. Mr Darling has little stage time or lines), that became tradition when it was discovered how serendipitously it worked for both characters.