Learning to Fly

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

Local actors realizing a dream for the upcoming production of 'Peter Pan'

Melanie Jerger is no stranger to pain the last few days. She spent a good part of the weekend learning to fly, and it's not as blissful as it sounds.

"It kind of hurts," she said. "I don't know how it looks, but as long as I can smile, it's all right."

Jerger, a 21-year-old cosmetology student from Kalispell, will play the title role in the upcoming Whitefish Theatre Company production of "Peter Pan," which runs Dec. 5-21 at the O'Shaughnessy. She was cast as Peter after director Jesse Culp called her up and asked her to audition.

"I've been in 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Death Trap' and some other stuff, but I've never done anything like this," she said.

Hooked into a special harness on a pulley system, Jerger is yanked several yards into the air, then dropped down at an angle extremely fast. Predictably, she lets out an excited scream.

"It's only scary sometimes, when the ground is coming up fast," she said. "I would never skydive. I can't think about it though, because I have to sing when I'm doing this."

With the help of a stage company from Louisville, Ky., the O'Shaughnessy will be rigged to accommodate five flying actors for the special production.

Jason Schumacker, of ZFX Flying Effects, said he travels all around the world to design flying effects for theatrical productions.

"I was in Bogota, Columbia, last month doing a Christmas show," he said. "Juan Navidad. Johnny Christmas. They had flying angels and a flying Jesus. I also did a show that just ended in Quatar. I've worked in Winnipeg, Canada, and on a show called 'Wicked' in Australia. I'm traveling to South Korea next month. Quite literally, our company has done shows on every continent except Antarctica."

Schumacker said he rigs a different system for every show. He has a background in theater, so he's familiar with the timing and lines in the production of "Peter Pan."

"I've done Peter Pan 20 times. People love it," he said. "We do it nine or 10 times a year."

Schumacker said he's one of only 30 people in the world at any given time that really do what he does.

"I do a lot of fight choreography and stunt work as well," he said.

There will be 133 separate wires, along with several dedicated stage hands, keeping the actors in the air. The play has a cast of 30 actors, an elaborate set, fight scenes, original songs and many custom costumes, including a giant crocodile head. About 70 volunteers will be helping out, including 10 strong guys helping out with the flying.

When she is in the air, Jerger has to keep her body in control so she doesn't start spinning rapidly. Doing so would be embarrassing, not to mention nauseating, during the show.

"I can scissor kick and move my legs in a circle to keep from spinning," she said. "We've been so stressed about technical stuff that I haven't been as focused on my lines as I need to be."

Evening shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20, and Sunday shows on Dec. 7, 14 and 21 are at 4 p.m., both with reserved seating. Saturday matinees on Dec. 6, 13 and 20 are at 2 p.m. and are general admission.

Reserved tickets are $20 adults and $16 students and seniors. General admission tickets are $16 adults and $12 students and seniors. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 862-5371 and one hour before a performance. For more information, visit online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org.