Trivia / Peter Pan Goes Wrong

• The Cameo: Harry Kershaw, who played the role of Francis (the narrator and Cecco the pirate) in the original production, appears as the BBC stage manager. This is because his role as the narrator was taken over by David Suchet.
• Creator Cameo:
  • The Park Keeper, during the rowboat cutaways, is played by Adam Meggido, the director for the stage version of "Peter Pan Goes Wrong".
  • During the cutaway to the swimming pool, someone can be seen splashing water in the background. This is Roberto Surace, the show's costume designer.
• Enforced Method Acting: The fear and discomfort on the faces of the actors playing Dennis, Sandra, and Max during the bunk bed sequence were real because there was a genuine possibility that they could get seriously injured if they weren't positioned just right for each drop.
• No Budget: During the play's run on stage, the company didn't have the money for a proper backstage crew. Instead, cast members had to dash around behind the scenes to prepare sets, dressing, costumes, and props and dash back on stage to hit their cues.
• One-Take Wonder: The crew only had one chance to shoot the Jolly Roger crashing through the nursery in the end for the BBC adaptation, as they wouldn't have time to rebuild the set for another take. Luckily, the shot turned out perfectly.
• Prop Recycling: According to Dave Hearn, the crocodile costume he wore on the West End and in the BBC adaptation was originally made for a National Theatre performance of Peter Pan.
• Real-Life Relative: In the BBC televised production, Jonathan Sayer’s (Dennis) father-in-law is the member of the audience that starts the first “Oh no it isn’t” argument with Chris.
• Real Life Writes the Plot: The pre-recorded shots of Captain Hook/Chris in a rowboat jump from Hyde Park to a swimming pool because originally Chris was meant to fall into the lake... but to do the stunt at Hyde Park would have required expensive testing of the water, divers in the water, and a full rescue team on stand by.
• Role Reprise: The original cast traveled to New York to celebrate the opening of the play's Broadway run. Henry Shields stayed behind to help out in the event any problems arose. He ended up needing to step in as Mr. Darling and Captain Hook for a stretch because so many of the Broadway cast fell ill due to COVID-19 and suffered from severe exhaustion (since Hook requires a lot of physicality and shouting).
• Special Guest: The Broadway and Los Angeles productions both at points had a celebrity narrate the show, with Harry Kershaw still playing Francis as Cecco the pirate.
  • Ellie Kemper narrated the Broadway production from June 20th through 25th of 2023.
  • Bradley Whitford narrated the Los Angeles production from August 9th through 27th of 2023, complete with jokes about the then-current Writers and Actors guild strikes.
  • Daniel Dae Kim narrated the LA production from August 30th through September 10th of 2023.
• Stunt Casting: Neil Patrick Harris played the role of Francis (as both the narrator and Cecco the pirate) on Broadway from April 11th through May 7th of 2023, and then reprised the role in Los Angeles from September 12th through 17th of 2023.
• Throw It In!:
  • Max going "Snap, Snap!" as the Crocodile was improvised by Dave Hearn.
  • "Do you need a hand?" from the BBC adaptation was a genuine heckle from an audience member (the other heckles were scripted). However, its cheekiness and Henry Shield's ad-libbed indignation worked so well that they kept it in the final cut.
• What Could Have Been: In the early days of the play, it was originally written that, when Sandra catches Jonathan & Annie kissing, Annie & Sandra would begin fighting, in a Call-Back to The Play That Goes Wrong. It was then suggested by their performers that, while the two would fight a little at first, the two would quickly make up and look out for each other, realizing that it was Jonathan who was two-timing.

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