 | This poster titled "The Arrival of Peter Pan," created circa 1907 by John Hassall, will be on view in the Beinecke Library exhibit "My Heart in Company." |
The life and work of James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937), the creator of the beloved children's classic "Peter Pan," will be highlighted in a new exhibition at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Titled "My Heart in Company: The Work of J.M. Barrie and the Birth of Peter Pan," the display will be on view Feb. 3-April 23.
Manuscripts, photographs, documents and artifacts from the Beinecke's collections will serve to exemplify Barrie's creative life and the breadth of his work. In conjunction with the exhibition, a series of films based on Barrie's plays will be shown on Sunday afternoons in February at the Yale Center for British Art.
Mainly known today as the author of "Peter Pan: The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up," Barrie was a celebrity in England and America at the turn of the 20th century for his novels, plays and journalism -- beginning with his fictionalized memoirs of his childhood in Scotland, "Auld Licht Idylls," and continuing through stage successes such as "Quality Street" and "The Admirable Crichton."
A writer who was interested in the nature of childhood, Barrie took his inspiration for "Peter Pan" from the young Llewelyn Davies brothers and their mother. Premiering in December 1904, the play has earned Barrie a lasting place in popular culture. "Peter Pan" spawned such an avalanche of keepsakes, novelties and other products that it eventually overshadowed most of Barrie's other works. The story of Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies family has also entered the public's imagination and was explored most recently in the movie "Finding Neverland."
The Beinecke Library holds a significant collection of manuscripts, letters and personal effects of Barrie, the majority of which was collected by Walter Beinecke Jr., son of one of the three brothers who built and endowed the library.
In observance of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of "Peter Pan" and as a tribute to the late Walter Beinecke Jr., the Beinecke Library will display some of its most treasured Barrie items. These include a manuscript of Barrie's first play, "Bandelero the Bandit"; personal photographs; Barrie's key to Kensington Gardens; and the sole surviving copy of "The Boy Castaways of Black Lake Island," Barrie's record of the Llewelyn Davies boys' adventures, created from his photographs. Also included are Barrie's notes for a "fairy play"; manuscripts of "The Little White Bird," with the first appearance of Peter Pan; a rare toy theater of "Peter Pan"; and promotional material related to the play, including the original theater poster created by artist Charles Buchel, which depicts Peter and Wendy flying over the treetops, and souvenir posters by John Hassall showing scenes from the play -- all of which were specially restored for this exhibition.
Youngsters who visit the exhibition will receive a free children's guide; a catalogue of the exhibition will be on sale at the Beinecke Library. Also on sale will be reproductions of four of the six posters by Hassall that are on view.
A reception at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 3, will mark the opening of "My Heart in Company: The Works of J.M. Barrie and the Birth of Peter Pan." The event is free and open to the public.
Educators interested in taking part in a special preview of the exhibition should call Timothy Young, assistant curator of modern books and manuscripts, at (203) 432-8131.
The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is located at 121 Wall St. It is open for exhibition viewing Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The library will be closed Friday, March 25. Admission is free. For further information, call (203) 432-2977 or visit the website at www.library.yale.edu/beinecke.
The oldest and newest film adaptations of "Peter Pan" will be among the works based on Barrie's tales featured in a Sunday film series hosted by the Yale Center for British Art in conjunction with the exhibition at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Each screening begins at 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The series schedule follows:
Feb. 6 -- "Peter Pan" (1924). This silent version was the earliest film adaptation of the classic tale. Directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Betty Bronson as Peter, it was one of the most popular films of the early cinema. The film has been restored with a new orchestral score.
Feb. 13 -- This screening will be a double feature. The first film, "Male and Female" (1919) is a silent adaptation of Barrie's "The Admirable Crichton." It was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and shows off his newest star at the time, Gloria Swanson.
The second film, "We're Not Dressing" (1934), is a looser musical adaptation of "Crichton" that was directed by Norman Taurog and stars Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard. The plot concerns the reversal of class roles when an heiress' yacht gets stranded on a deserted island. George Burns and Gracie Allen are among the stars who appear in this film. This second feature will start at 3:15 p.m.
Feb. 27 -- "Peter Pan" (2003), the most recent live action film adaptation of the classic story, features Jeremy Sumpter as Peter and Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook. The film, directed by P.J. Hogan and rated PG, remains faithful to the original story.
The Yale Center for British Art is located at 1080 Chapel St. For further information, call (203) 432-2800 or visit the website at www.yale.edu/ycba.
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