original version of the play

[JAQ]

Has the original (or an early) version of the play ever been published?  The 1928 edition is fairly easy to come by, but that's the product of a quarter century of JMB "tinker"ing.  The introductory notes for John Caird and Trevor Nunn's version of the script mention scenes such as the "beautiful mothers", the wedding of Tootles and Wendy, Hook in Kensington, etc. which would be interesting to read. 

I wonder if GOSH has considered taking advantage of the copyright they undisputedly do still have in the US (the 1928 script) to publish a "Compleat Peter Pan", including not only JMB's final draft but the various "deleted scenes" and "alternate endings" he wrote (and toss in Kensington Gardens while they're at it).

[AlexanderDavid]

Has the original (or an early) version of the play ever been published?  The 1928 edition is fairly easy to come by, but that's the product of a quarter century of JMB "tinker"ing.  The introductory notes for John Caird and Trevor Nunn's version of the script mention scenes such as the "beautiful mothers", the wedding of Tootles and Wendy, Hook in Kensington, etc. which would be interesting to read. 

I wonder if GOSH has considered taking advantage of the copyright they undisputedly do still have in the US (the 1928 script) to publish a "Compleat Peter Pan", including not only JMB's final draft but the various "deleted scenes" and "alternate endings" he wrote (and toss in Kensington Gardens while they're at it).

It WAS Tootles that Wendy married?     How did I know?

Well, I'd like to know the answer as well.  This site has an early draft which presumably was not the draft that made it onstage in 1904, but it does have the "20 Beautiful Mothers" scene and Hook in Kensington Gardens.  In particular it explained to me why the Indians protected the children when that version didn't have the Mermaids' Lagoon scene in which Peter saves Tiger Lily's life--I personally prefer the latter as an explanation.

But again, that's not the 1904 version--I read the advertisement for the original version of the play and it seems to have had a considerably larger role for the Indians, which makes me curious as to just what such a role was....

[GOSH]

A 'Compleat Peter Pan' is a great idea but GOSH are not publishers, so we couldn't do it ourselves: it would have to be commissioned independently by a publisher. There is however an 'Annotated Peter Pan' in the pipeline, written by Maria Tatar and to be published in the near future. I haven't read it but I believe it will include the full text of the play with annotations providing historical background, and comments so might provide details of changes and additions over the years.

Barrie's rehearsal script of the original production is now at the Beinecke Library at Yale University and available on microfilm. The 1907 Peter Pan Keepsake is the story of the play as originally produced retold by Daniel O'Connor, so includes elements which were later changed. It was later published under the name 'The Peter Pan Picture Book.

Finally, an excellent book retracing the stage history of the work is Roger Lancelyn Green's Fifty Years of Peter Pan published by Peter Davies in 1954. It is full of anecdotes and details of the original productions with reminiscences from many actors, and includes JMB's own scenario for a silent movie. A must for anyone with an interest in Barrie and Peter Pan.

Hope this helps!

[mikey2573]

Have to say, that FIFTY YEARS OF PETER PAN book (which I bought from an online used bookstore) is an incredible read.  If you haven't read it, you MUST!
Also, can't wait for an ANNOTATED PETER PAN.  I will be first in line!

[jjbennet]

I have to get hold of that book! I never thought that Wendy married another instead of Peter Pan. I am new here. Thanks for this post. It just got into my mind and fell to know more about it.

[andrew]

The problem with compiling an annotated Peter Pan is knowing where to stop in terms of content.

Back in 1984, I put together a collation of Barrie's primary PP texts for the benefit of Trevor Nunn and the RSC, from which he and John Caird made their choices. It ran to over 400 pages, laid out on a double spread of A3 paper, with separate columns for "Anon: A Play", the 1904 rehearsal script, the 1905 American version, the 1911 novel, the 1921 Paramount screenplay, and the final printed play of 1928.

However, there are at least a further 5 drafts of the play between "Anon" and the 1904 rehearsal, and a further 6 drafts between 1904 and 1928. The screenplay exists in 5 drafts, and the novel in 3... and we haven't even started on PP in Kensington Gardens, nor his 400+ Fairy Notes!  Perhaps one day I will be able to hoist the different versions on this website, but there might be copyright issues (the published works may be in the public domain, but unpublished texts will become GOSH's copyright for 70 years from first publication - and quite right too!)

Those with long memories will also remember that the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library were none too keen to see their Barrie collection shared on line, and as they own virtually all the originals, it couldn't really be done without their blessing as well as GOSH ...

[AlexanderDavid]

The problem with compiling an annotated Peter Pan is knowing where to stop in terms of content.

Back in 1984, I put together a collation of Barrie's primary PP texts for the benefit of Trevor Nunn and the RSC, from which he and John Caird made their choices. It ran to over 400 pages, laid out on a double spread of A3 paper, with separate columns for "Anon: A Play", the 1904 rehearsal script, the 1905 American version, the 1911 novel, the 1921 Paramount screenplay, and the final printed play of 1928.

However, there are at least a further 5 drafts of the play between "Anon" and the 1904 rehearsal, and a further 6 drafts between 1904 and 1928. The screenplay exists in 5 drafts, and the novel in 3... and we haven't even started on PP in Kensington Gardens, nor his 400+ Fairy Notes!  Perhaps one day I will be able to hoist the different versions on this website, but there might be copyright issues (the published works may be in the public domain, but unpublished texts will become GOSH's copyright for 70 years from first publication - and quite right too!)

Those with long memories will also remember that the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library were none too keen to see their Barrie collection shared on line, and as they own virtually all the originals, it couldn't really be done without their blessing as well as GOSH ...

I suppose you could simply have annotations of how certain parts changed in each version of, say, the play (or novel, or screenplay), rather than necessarily have multiple versions of each--that's what they did with "The Annotated Hobbit"--for example, in Chapter 5 they had snippets of the original version (pre-Lord of the Rings) as it differed from the final version, rather than having an entire Chapter 5 of the original version.

[JamesHookMayweather]

The problem with compiling an annotated Peter Pan is knowing where to stop in terms of content.

Back in 1984, I put together a collation of Barrie's primary PP texts for the benefit of Trevor Nunn and the RSC, from which he and John Caird made their choices. It ran to over 400 pages, laid out on a double spread of A3 paper, with separate columns for "Anon: A Play", the 1904 rehearsal script, the 1905 American version, the 1911 novel, the 1921 Paramount screenplay, and the final printed play of 1928.

However, there are at least a further 5 drafts of the play between "Anon" and the 1904 rehearsal, and a further 6 drafts between 1904 and 1928. The screenplay exists in 5 drafts, and the novel in 3... and we haven't even started on PP in Kensington Gardens, nor his 400+ Fairy Notes!  Perhaps one day I will be able to hoist the different versions on this website, but there might be copyright issues (the published works may be in the public domain, but unpublished texts will become GOSH's copyright for 70 years from first publication - and quite right too!)

Those with long memories will also remember that the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library were none too keen to see their Barrie collection shared online, and as they own virtually all the originals, it couldn't really be done without their blessing as well as GOSH ...

Dear Mr. Birkin,

My Alias is James "Hook" Mayweather (My Real Name is Spencer).

I am an Independent Screenwriter working on a PETER PAN (Based/Inspired by) Project. Working on what may become a film trilogy or TV series/(miniseries (US), Serial (UK), based and inspired by Barrie's Pan, other various Drafts (Books, screenplays), etc. Including, if possible to procure a copy of, PETER PAN: THE BOY WHO HATED MOTHERS by Michael Lluberes. I should also mention, that I do not have the rights or allowance by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, I am solely writing this an independent project, for the time being.

I hope that this message does reach you as I saw a post with your email here on the site. I tried to use it to contact you, but, as another poster said (on a post from 2005), all it does is "Return/Pingback" without allowing it to reach you for a response. I don't know if you have an email or any other way to contact you beyond (here on the forums it would be great. To speak PAN/BARRIE that you are so extremely knowledgeable about. My ultimate goal is to make the complete PAN script featuring every line or moment from the play, books, screenplay, combined into a long, but, a complete script (using all the parts as one!)

I look forward to speaking with you and to any help, content, and the likes you might be able to offer me.

Thank you,

JAMES MAYWEATHER.